There was a state of confusion in the country's capital city of Nairobi after heavy police tankers were spotted at the Nyayo Stadium roundabout.
A video shared by Human Rights Activist Hussein Khalid showed two police tankers filled with officers making their way into the city's Central Business District on Tuesday, January 7.
"Heavy police presence at Nyayo stadium roundabout," the activist stated.
Although the main reason for the police deployment is not clear, the activist wondered if there were planned protests that necessitated the deployment. The government always deploys heavy police in the CBD when there have been threats of protests.
"Are there people that have threatened to hold protests today or has the government just panicked, " the activist asked.
The return of police patrolling the city's CBD confused residents. During the anti-governmental protests in June/July 2024, police officers patrolled and manned the CBD daily as they aimed to block youths from protesting.
On Tuesday, January 6, the city witnessed running battles between police and a section of Kenyans who had turned up to protest against the ongoing forced disappearances faced in the country.
Protestors from different parts of the country confronted police officers who tried to block them from exercising their right of picketing. The protests on Tuesday also saw the return of masked, hooded, and, ununiformed police officers patrolling the CBD.
"Hooded men with guns were back on the streets of Nairobi yesterday, riding in a police car from a station I've never heard of," read a tweet by journalist Larry Madowo on Tuesday.
Nairobi Regional Police boss Adamson Bungei had revealed that he had not received any notice of the Tuesday protests and suggested the possibility of police patrolling to ensure the protests don't happen.
The presence of the police tankers on Wednesday has raised uncertainties among Kenyans online wondering what is their aim.
In an advisory to its citizens, the US Embassy advised its residents to remain vigilant during any protests as even peaceful protests can turn chaotic due to the police presence during protests.
“Protests that appear peaceful can turn violent at any moment. Police checkpoints and traffic disruptions are to be expected,” the advisory stated.
