Nine arrested as Mombasa remained a ghost town

Gen Z protesters lit bonfire at Kangemi along Waiyaki Way during the 1st Anniversary of those killed during the 2024 protests. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

Mombasa was a ghost city as hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets to protest against police brutality and commemorate the June 25, 2024, killing of Generation Zoomers (Gen Z).

Nine protestors were arrested as hundreds of armed police officers barricaded roads leading to the Mombasa State House. Shops and other businesses were closed for the better part of the day.

However, business owners, largely in the Mombasa Central Business District (CBD), took early precautions and closed down their premises.

The protestors who defied orders to disperse after human rights activists presented their memorandum to Mombasa County Commissioner Mr Mohamed Noor were arrested.

After an early morning mass at the Mombasa ACK Cathedral Memorial church, youthful protestors with placards denouncing governments continued high-handedness on dissenting voices, the marchers headed to the iconic Elephant Tusks from Nkrumah Road to Moi Avenue before leaving to join Digo Road, Jomo Kenyatta Avenue, Abdel Nasser Road and later Nkrumah Road before attempting to march towards State House.

Veteran human rights activist Khelef Khalifa, who had joined the protestors, said that he was part of the negotiating team that sought an audience with the Mombasa County Police Chief, Nicholas Chelulot, and said that police had initially attempted to direct the protestors on which routes to follow.

"We told them the day belonged to us, and we were going to be peaceful and decide our route. We implored them (the police) to allow us to use our prescribed route," Khelef said.

Mr Francis Auma, Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri) Rapid Response Officer, said that they were keen to ensure that goons do not take advantage of the protest to cause mayhem.

"We are able to know our people. These goons are never part of our mission, and we are smoking them out from our midst," Auma said.

With chants of One Tam!, the protestors, with police on their toes, braved an early morning drizzle to continue with their protest.

As the convoy snaked through the streets, suspected goons with empty rucksacks on their backs joined the marchers, but protesters alerted police.

Another activist, Mr Bradley Ouma, called out President William Ruto to ensure swift compensation to families of the over 68 Kenyan youths who were killed by police and, at the same time, arrest and charge before a court of law trigger-happy police who killed innocent protestors.