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Security has been beefed up around State Houses and State Lodges across the country ahead of the planned nationwide mass action by Azimio la Umoja coalition protesting high cost of living.

In Nairobi, at least seven temporary roadblocks were yesterday mounted on the roads around State House on Ralph Bunche Road, near Kenya Comfort Hotel, at State House Gate C, near State House Girls and Crawford Business Park.

A spot check by People Daily established that security has been beefed up around State Houses and State Lodges in Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu and Sagana.

Azimio leader Raila Odinga had a fortnight ago issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government.

And yesterday, opposition leaders threatened to rally supporters to storm various government offices to protest over the high cost of living.

This even as they asked Kenya Kwanza administration why they are yet to fulfil any of its promises especially on lowering of the cost of commodities that has lately gone through the roof.

Legislators Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi Senator), Enock Wambua (Kitui Senator), MPs Samuel Atandi (Alego Usonga), Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), Nabi Nabwera (Lugari) and Jared Okello (Nyando) said Kenyans had been promised cost of goods would come down as soon as President William Ruto was sworn in, adding that in the contrary, prices have continued to rise months after Ruto took over.

 High cost of living

They said Kenya had licensed importation of GMO food and prices are still high and the economy has refused to pick up.

“Then we were told to wait for six months. Each time the months arrive, the goals post shifts again. We want answers and if they do not come in the next few days, we will have no option but to lead our supporters into these offices for answers. We will follow these officers anywhere and everywhere for answers and not warnings,” said Sifuna in a statement.

He went on: “We do not pay Cabinet Secretaries or Principal Secretaries to tell us how bad things are. Kenyans know that already. We do not pay government to tell us where and how things went wrong and who is responsible. We do not pay this administration to supply us with morticians, deniers and revisionists which is what we seem to have.”

Besides the roadblocks, deployment of both undercover and uniformed officers has also been enhanced especially around vital installations with reports indicating that the President’s security, especially while mobile, had also been beefed up. The same has been reported in Kisumu, Nakuru and Mombasa State Houses.

Nairobi Region Police Commander Adamson Bungei confirmed the erection of the roadblocks but said the State House being a vital installation, there was need for periodic security checks around.

“Nairobi residents are assured of their safety. We are in charge of their security and have deployed adequately,” Bungei said. The police commander further warned that some criminals could take advantage of the protests to rob members of the public but added that undercover officers had been deployed to deal with such cases.

In Kisumu, where the Azimio leader has massive support, police yesterday  mounted a temporary roadblock on the driveway to State Lodge from Jomo Kenyatta Avenue to suppress any possible mass action in the city.

At State House, Kisumu, two land cruisers and a lorry load of police officers both in anti-riot gear and in plain clothes stood strategically at the junction to Kisumu county offices and the State Lodge. The officers diverted traffic to use an alternative route as they kept vigil on the road, just to ensure that there was normalcy within the city roads and its surrounding. Yesterday, Nyanza Regional Police boss Karanja Muiruri said they were not taking any chances.

“Yes, it’s true we have mounted the roadblock. We are not taking any chances,’’ Muiruri said.

Police patrols in and around Kisumu were beefed up incase of any eventuality, with Karanja saying many were deployed on the beat patrols.

Mounted roadblocks

In Nairobi where the roadblocks were erected as early as 6am, the heavily armed officers were inspecting all vehicles and questioning motorists. Motorcyclists were, however, not allowed on  some of these roads.

On Saturday, Raila announced a change of tact that will see demonstrations held simultaneously across the country. This, according to sources, informed the decision of the police to beef up deployment across the country.

Speaking at the burial of Luo Council of Elders Chairman Opiyo Otandi, Raila said the responsibility for mobilising mass rallies had been taken away from Azimio’s top brass.

ODM county officials have been tasked with mobilising Kenyans ahead of Raila’s big announcement today.

Earlier, while speaking at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi Raila said plans for the mass action remained on course.

“We want you to wait for the time. The deadline is on Wednesday at midnight, so you will hear from us on Thursday (today),” he said.

And addressing a press conference yesterday at the Azimio headquarters, Sifuna said that months after Kenya Kwanza came to power, day in, day out, Kenyans are bombarded with stories of how badly things were when the Kenya Kwanza regime took over.