Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers were on Monday, July 7, deployed on parts of the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, where Saba Saba protests threatened to descend into full-blown skirmishes.
The officers were spotted manning notable areas along the highway, with some KDF personnel being spotted in the Safari Centre in Naivasha after a botched attempt by goons to infiltrate a Naivas Supermarket in the area.
Prior to the KDF’s deployment on Monday, several areas from Waiyaki Way in Nairobi all the way to Nakuru reported disturbances stemming from goons, who lit bonfires and set up boulders along the busy highway.
At the Free Area in Nakuru, scores of youth staged angry protests, leaving motorists stranded for hours amid concerns over little to no police action.
Relative calm was, however, restored along the highway following the deployment of the KDF officers, who were fully equipped with their military gear and armoured vehicles.
Interestingly, residents had a warmer reception to the presence of KDF officers at the protest scenes in both Nairobi and Naivasha, as images seen by Kenyans.co.ke showed cheerful interactions between the two parties.
This was a stark contrast to how civilians reacted to regular anti-riot police officers, who were engaged in running battles with protesters for a large part of Monday afternoon.
The presence of the military in areas like the Nairobi-Nakuru highway has often ignited debate among Kenyans, with some raising concerns about the normalisation of military deployment in civilian spaces.
Under the 2010 Constitution and the Kenya Defence Forces Act, the KDF can respond to domestic disturbances in the country, but under extremely special conditions.
According to Article 241(3)(b) of the constitution, the military is permitted to infiltrate civilian spaces in the event of disasters or to restore peace. However, this is usually subject to Parliament’s approval.
The Defence Act further stipulates that the deployment of the military should be published in the Kenya Gazette within 24 hours with intricate details of the scope, duration and area that will be occupied.
Last year, KDF being on the streets became a norm after June 25, when they were deployed to guard critical infrastructure during protests. The orders, issued by then Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, remain in effect, meaning the soldiers can appear on the streets if and when they are needed.
