Locals in Nanyuki made good their threat from last week as they took to the streets in protest on Monday, July 14, demanding justice for a lady who died in police custody.
By Monday morning, there was a heavy police presence in Nanyuki town as anti-riot officers manned the streets in anticipation of the protests. The youth had vowed to take to the street to demand justice for one Julia Njoki.
The 24-year-old reportedly died days after she was arrested on Monday, July 7, while heading home after the Saba Saba Day demos.
Addressing the press on Saturday, July 12, the residents said they would hold protests should the government fail to apprehend the suspects behind Njoki's death.
This threat seemingly kept authorities on their toes, as videos seen by Kenyans.co.ke on Monday showed several police trucks and vehicles patrolling the streets.
Despite a heavy police presence, protesters still took to the streets armed with placards bearing messages to the government.
By 12 pm on Monday, protesters had increased in number in the Nanyuki streets, although the demonstrations were largely peaceful with the protesters seen wailing Njoki's name as they walked along a busy road in the presence of police officers.
Meanwhile, Njoki's family is still coming to terms with her death, as they seek answers to what happened to their kin whilst in police custody. According to the family, Njoki was walking home when she was caught in the midst of protesters and apprehended by authorities.
After being arraigned at the Nanyuki Law Courts, Njoki was granted bail of Ksh50,000, but her family were unable to raise the funds, resulting in her being remanded at Nanyuki GK prison.
Around this time, according to Njoki's grandmother, she was assaulted leading to her death.
A post-mortem is expected to be conducted on Tuesday, July 15 to ascertain the cause of Njoki's death, whose family insist was not part of the protests.
Njoki was among tens of youth who died as a result of the Saba Saba protests, with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) revealing on Wednesday that the death toll from the demonstrations had risen to 31.
