How police frustrated the planned mass action

The Nairobi County Security and Intelligence Committee's initial plan was to bar demonstrators from entering the CBD.

By midnight Sunday, police officers had poured into Nairobi's streets to patrol the city centre and monitor people's movements.

Some of the officers were tasked with ensuring vehicles transporting demonstrators from the countryside were not allowed into the city.

As a result, there was increased patrol on all major roads, including Waiyaki- Way, Thika Road, and Mombasa Road.

Azimio la Umoja protestors under arrest along Moi Avenue, Nairobi, March 20, 2023. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Last week, The Standard revealed some of the strategies devised by police chiefs in an attempt to quell the protests. The Nairobi security team, according to sources, has recommended a heavy deployment of police officers in and around the city centre.

Furthermore, the team recommended that all major roads leading to the CBD be closed and that no demonstrators be permitted. Vehicles ferrying politicians and their supporters were not to be allowed to access city centre.

To achieve this, the police planned to use officers from the elite GSU, Administration Police RDU and regular police officers.