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Attempts by anti-government protesters to barricade the Nairobi-Namanga road were yesterday thwarted by anti-riot police officers.

A heavy contingent of regular police, the General Service Unit and prison officers lobbed teargas canisters to disperse hundreds of protesters who kept regrouping and retaliating with stones. Tens of protesters were arrested in unclear circumstances.

Vigilante groups armed with crude weapons and said to have been hired by the Kitengela business community to protect their premises against looting were also spotted patrolling the town.

The business community which has held several meetings with security agencies led by the County commissioner James Taari had threatened to take the law into their hands to protect their premises.

“We were worried about the massive losses and destruction of property that has adversely affected our businesses. We sought audience with security officers who assured us that they will protect our businesses from looters,” said Titus Ndei, an official of the business association.

“Our vigilante group was tasked with reporting suspicious characters scheming to break into business premises and report to police officers. We are law abiding citizens and we cannot encourage insecurity. We as traders are not opposed to peaceful protests, we are opposed to looting and destruction of property,” said Ndei.

Subaru vehicles

The heavy security deployment was aided by plain clothes officers in unmarked Subaru vehicles patrolling the town and a police helicopter which conducted aerial surveys in the populous town.

“Let’s retreat and scamper for safety, the killer squad is here. The occupants of the Subarus are here to eliminate us,” shouted some of the protesters.

There was very little traffic on the usually busy Nairobi-Namanga road with motorists keeping off for fear of their vehicles being caught up in the increasingly violent protests.

In the past, Kitengela and Ong’ata Rongai towns in Kajiado county have witnessed massive destruction of property, looting and loss of lives in chaotic anti-government protests.

Kajiado leaders led by governor Joseph Ole Lenku are on record condemning the chaotic protests they termed as imported violence.

“We have witnessed a wave of violence and insecurity in Kitengela and Ong’ata Rongai during the anti-government protests.