Three protesters have died during the anti-government protests in Mlolongo after demonstrators blocked the main Mombasa Road Wednesday and vandalised metal grills separating the Expressway.
The incident followed mid-morning protests where hundreds of residents barricaded the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway, paralysing transport on the busy road.
The demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the high cost of living in the country. The protests were called by Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga.
Following the incident, angry demonstrators set a police van on fire and destroyed other properties in the town to protest against the killing.
Motorists had to make quick u-turns on both sides after protesters started stoning them damaging several cars.
Police fired tear gas on protesters who defied a police ban to join a demonstration against tax hikes called by opposition leader Raila Odinga in the capital Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Kisii, Homa Bay, Nakuru among others.
Shops were shut and security was tight in the capital Nairobi, where police deployed tear gas against stone-throwing demonstrators in the slum of Mathare.
The clashes followed rallies in several cities last week that turned deadly. Six people were killed according to the interior ministry, and rights campaigners accused police of being heavy-handed.
On the eve of Wednesday’s protests, the country’s police chief Japheth Koome warned opposition supporters from holding “illegal demonstrations”, saying that organisers had not provided the authorities with any “notifications” about their planned rallies this week.
“In this regard, no such demonstrations/gatherings/protests will be allowed tomorrow… All lawful means will be used to disperse such demonstrations,” Koome said in a statement.
Police in Nairobi on Friday fired tear gas, targeting Odinga’s convoy, AFP reporters reported.
They took similar steps against demonstrations in the cities of Mombasa and Kisumu.
On Saturday campaigners said police used tear gas on civil society representatives demanding the release of dozens of people arrested during the protests.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has called for “a thorough investigation into all reported incidents of police brutality”, adding to the chorus of condemnation from rights groups including Amnesty International against “arbitrary arrests”.
Odinga’s Azimio alliance has vowed to stage protests every week against the policies of President William Ruto’s government.
“Our activities are protected by the Constitution which guarantees right to protest, picket, assemble and present petitions,” Odinga’s spokesman Dennis Onyango told AFP.