Student leaders affiliated with Azimio La Umoja, were arrested on Saturday, March 18, while holding a press conference in one of Nairobi's hotels.
Police accused the students of holding an illegal meeting to advise their followers before the Monday, March 20, demonstrations.
Detectives were said to have stormed the hotel before the presser could get underway.
Nearly 50 student leaders were handcuffed, with some bundled into waiting vans pending being charged and arraigned on Monday, March 20.
The students serving under the Kenya University Students Organization (KUSO) umbrella were set to give directives to other student organisations across the country.
Another contingent of police officers later arrived at the police station and moved the students to Central Police Station, where they were grilled.
The student leaders agitated against the arrest, noting that police officers were clearly violating their right to associate and express themselves without fear of reprisal from the government.
Central Police officers later processed the students who may spend the weekend at the station.
While addressing a public baraza on Tuesday, March 14, Azimio leader Raila Odinga unlawfully declared Monday, March 20, a public holiday.
Raila noted that the public holiday would allow his supporters to attend protests against the government, with President William Ruto being accused of failing to lower the cost of living.
"I hereby now declare today in the name of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Coalition that Monday the 20th of March will be a public holiday," Raila declared.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader warned the police against mishandling the protestors. To that effect, Raila asked protestors to carry white handkerchiefs to signal that they were advocating for peace.
