Kenyans were on Wednesday engaged in heated discussions over the day's top trending topics, among them a protest organised by members of the Maasai community.
Aggrieved pastoralists had gathered at Nairobi's Uhuru Park with banners and placards to demur the alleged shooting of 300 cows by police in Laikipia County.
The hashtag #MaaProtests quickly rose to the top of Twitter trends after police dispersed the protesters using teargas on grounds that they had not informed authorities on their planned protest.
[caption caption="A group of Maasai community members holding up banners during a protest on November 22"]
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[caption caption="A group of Maasai community members during a protest on November 22"]
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Police maintained that the 300 heads of cattle were caught in a crossfire as police battled herders who had invaded a private farm.
"When the pastoralists saw the police, they hid amongst the livestock to shield themselves and started firing at them. Police had no other alternative other than returning fire," the Laikipia Police Commander Simon Kipkeu stated.
Laikipia North Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Korere, however, condemned the killings accusing the police of using excessive force.
"If the animals had trespassed, why couldn’t they arrest the herders? Would anyone question the pastoralists whose cows have been killed if they stole an equal number of animals from others?" she posed.
Here are some of the comments that were shared under the hashtag as well as the trending topic "Uhuru Park".
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka's wife, Pauline Kalonzo, caused a buzz on social media all through Wednesday after rumours that she had passed on while receiving treatment in Germany.
The former Vice President clarified the reports by stating that his wife was alive though still unwell and under treatment.
The topic "Kalonzo Musyoka" also topped trends on Twitter. Here are some of the comments that were shared.
The Kenyan retailer was on the trend on Wednesday after news that its Diani Branch had unfortunately closed down.
News also emerged indicating that Game Stores was set to open its second outlet in Kenya at the Waterfront Karen in 2018. The store would be replacing Nakumatt which was initially to be the mall's anchor tenant.
National Super Alliance (NASA) CEO Norman Magaya was also a trending topic on Wednesday as Kenyans continued to discuss his statement in which he gave the Jubilee party seven days notice of an impending action from the Opposition.
Here are some of the comments that were shared.
On Google Trends, the topics Pauline Kalonzo and Melanin Sauti Sol emerged as the day's most searched topics of the day.
