Tensions were high along the Kenya-Tanzania border at the busy crossing town of Namanga after protests erupted amid ongoing unrest following elections in neighbouring Tanzania.
The unrest at the border came amid growing demonstrations which have rocked major cities in Tanzania since Wednesday, October 29.
Images and videos obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed a section of youth on the Kenyan side making their way towards the border on motorbikes amid heavy police presence.
It remains unclear whether the youth wanted to join their Tanzanian counterpart in the protests, although preliminary reports indicate the frustration stemmed from police blocking entry or exit into the neighbouring country.
In one of the videos, a protester can be heard urging authorities to "Leave us alone, focus on Tanzania."
Thursday marked the second day in which unrest was experienced in the Namanga border, which was heavily protected on Wednesday during the voting stage of the Tanzania elections.
Notably, journalists who were hoping to cross the border to Tanzania to cover the polls were also blocked by authorities, with some of them reporting having little to no internet access in Namanga, despite still being on Kenyan soil.
Amid the new developments, the government, through Interior PS Raymond Omollo, has since issued a warning to Kenyans intending to join Tanzanians in demonstrations, stating that it could potentially be a violation of the law.
"I don't want to speak about what is happening in Tanzania. I can speak about Kenya. My point is, as a country, we have laws and regulations and guides on demonstrations. Anyone who wants to participate in any form of protests, let's do what the law requires us to do," Omollo spoke in Mombasa on Thursday.
"I want to appeal to anyone not to take the law into their hands and do what is required. If there is any point of inconvenience, the officers at the border will be in a position to advise so that we don't endanger anyone."
Businesses around the border have since been forced to shut down as tensions continue to flare, with youth in Tanzania insisting their protests would persist until the polls are declared null and void.
As far as the Tanzania elections are concerned, controversial figure Samia Suluhu is on course for a landslide win since the main opposition leader and her strongest competitor, Tundu Lissu, is in detention, with his party deciding to boycott the polls, citing unfair conditions.
On Wednesday, the Tanzanian police imposed a 6 pm curfew in a bid to quell protesters.
