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Day school learners who reported to their respective schools on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, were caught up in the protest melee which involved fierce running battles between police officers and hundreds of anti-Ruto protesters in Kitengela town.

The populous town witnessed cat-and-mouse games between police officers who lobbed teargas at crowds of protesters who in retaliation pelted them with stones.

The Nairobi Namanga road was barricaded using stones and garbage, paralyzing transport amid cases of massive destruction of property and looting of shops.

Parents in panic mode manoeuvred through clouds of teargas with their uniformed children as it became evident that school buses could not ply the Nairobi Namanga road.

“I was in the house when I had a lot of shooting in the air. My son was in school and I could not wait. I ran out of patience because the protest’s timelines is unpredictable.

“I am delighted that both police and protesters are paving the way for uniformed learners. It is a chaotic scene that exposes our children negatively. I am so devastated as a parent. My grade three son is asking endless questions and further disheartening that he is also excited and chanting the protesters’ songs,” Abigael Nekesa, a resident of Kitengela, said.

Nekesa like other parents says it is important for schools to allow learners to remain at home during protests scheduled days.

“The protests were said to be peaceful but the teargas on air and confusion calls for safety measures to be undertaken by learning institutions,” Joel Murunga, a resident of Kitengela, said.

Unrelenting protesters chanting anti-Ruto songs maintained that the protests were beyond the withdrawn 2024 Finance Bill and instead called for the resignation of President William Ruto.

They also called on justice for protesters who were killed and others maimed during last week’s deadly protests.

“Our president has failed us and we want him to resign,” Joel Sunke, a protester, said.

The protests at the town commenced at 10 am with a few protesters with the number surging over time.

Heal broke loose at around midday when police attempted to clear the barricaded road.

Kitengela registered a high of protesters compared to other Kajiado satellite towns.