Armed officers yesterday raided businessman Jimi Wanjigi house in Muthaiga, Nairobi, following reports that he was funding some youth to participate in the much anticipated Nane Nane protests.

Wanjigi, however, said he did not know what he has done or they wanted.

“The cops are outside the house and want to arrest or harm me,” he said.

He said police were demanding to be let into his house. He demanded an explanation from the team. Police claimed he had been seen on Limuru Road dishing out money to a group of youths.

They said he was chased and drove off before he vanished into Karura Forest.

Acting Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli said; “We intercepted a motor vehicle at the residence of Jimi Wanjigi and recovered several exhibits including four grenades. A total of 174 suspects arrested.”

Denied allegations

The officers said they wanted to arrest him for questioning. Wanjigi denied the claims. He has been vocal against the government and demanded explanations on many issues including debt. Wanjigi asked since when it became illegal for him to drive around.

“Is it wrong to drive anywhere in this city? Are we under curfew? And even if it is true I was dishing out money as they claim, for what?” he asked.

He termed the move as harassment even as more police were being sent to his house. By 4.20pm, more officers were arriving there ready for operations.

Wanjigi said the protests are organic and the demands of the protesters are genuine.  He said he will not be intimidated. This is the second such incident to happen at his house.

In 2017, police staged a similar attack on his house in a siege that lasted hours. On Thursday, protesters staged a march before police dispersed them.

Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua was seen in city before police approached her and told her to leave. She walked near City Market raising her fist.

The police dispersed groups for the better part of the day and arrested many people. The protests engulfed the capital’s Central Business District (CBD) for the better part of the day with police engaging protestors in running battles, resulting in several arrests.

In Mombasa, the much anticipated Nane Nane protests failed to materialize in Mombasa as the Port City remained hushed under the watchful eyes of heavy security presence.

Reports that protestors from across the country had been mobilized to converge in Nairobi, left Mombasa in a state of quiet anticipation—waiting for a storm that never came.

By dawn, the iconic elephant tusks on Moi Avenue, a symbolic starting point for many demonstrations, was already under heavy security. Police units had swarmed the area, dotting every corner, turning the site into a fortress of authority.

Several police units including the General Duty Officers, Administration Police, and units of the General Service Unit (GSU) intensified their surveillance, leaving nothing to chance.

At Mwembe Tayari, the Naivas Shopping Mall—a modern structure of towering glass—stood under the shadow of a lorry full of GSU officers, parked strategically since morning, its silent presence speaking volumes.

Tension in city

Police roadblocks were mounted at the Makupa Bridge in Kibarani, a crucial gateway to Mombasa Island. The tension in the air was palpable, and it wasn’t long before most businesses within the CBD opted to close their doors, choosing safety over profit.

The usual hustle and bustle gave way to an eerie stillness, as traffic dwindled and the streets emptied of their usual flow.

Civil society organizations were quick to voice their concerns, condemning the overwhelming police presence. “This feels like harassment and intimidation of the public,” said Francis Auma, a Rapid Response Officer at Muslims for Human Rights. “Picketing is a constitutional right, provided it’s peaceful. But in Mombasa, the tension is suffocating because the police are everywhere, patrolling every corner of the city.”

 In Kisumu city, calm prevailed as wananchi went about their businesses, ignoring calls by local human rights activists led by Booker Ngesa to stage the anti-government protests. The usually volatile Kondele, Maseno and Ahero centres remained peaceful for the better part of the day, unlike in recent weeks when they bore the brunt of the protests called by the Generation Z to demand the resignation of President William Ruto’s government.

The situation was the same in the neighboring counties of Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori, with majority of the residents largely ignoring the calls to join the protests.

Traders opened their shops, and restaurants and carried on with their activities uninterrupted even as police in anti-riot gear patrolled the streets. Police blocked roads leading to and out of the Kisumu State Lodge after rumours spread that it would be targeted by the protestors.

Residents who spoke to the press denounced the protests, instead expressing confidence in the new look cabinet which was sworn in at Nairobi State House yesterday. They said the new broad-based government would help sort out some of the issues raised by Gen Z in the recent nationwide protests. The residents were particularly pleased with President William Ruto’s decision to appoint four ODM officials in the new look cabinet.

Kisumu majority leader Ken Ouma said the protests are now history in Nyanza as they have moved on and were now focused on the greater good of the country. “We want to call on our people to support the government wholeheartedly,” said Ouma.