11,000 officers deployed to guard Uhuru Park and Nairobi

NAIROBI COUNTY: About 11,340 security personnel were deployed to beef up security at Monday's Saba Saba rally at Uhuru Park and Nairobi.

The officers included personnel from the Criminal Investigations Department, regular police, General Service Unit, National Youth Service, prisons and National Intelligence Service.

Police presence in Nairobi was unusually heavy, with few motorists driving into the capital ahead of the rally.

A few schools were operational while most shops remained closed for fear of chaos. About 10 armed prison officers were positioned at every supermarket.

"The situation was peaceful and we can say this was out of co-operation from Kenyans," said Nairobi police boss Benson Kibue.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku and Deputy Inspector General of Police Grace Kaindi led officers in patrolling sections of the city to check on deployment.

Lenku visited Uhuru Park and talked to officers manning the entrance briefly before he left.

"I am satisfied with the security and hope all will be well to the end. We are still monitoring," he told The Standard at the site.

There was some mild disturbance when some youths stormed the streets singing anti-government slogans. At the park, police hurled a teargas canister to disperse a group that was pelting them with stones.