LIVE BLOG: Raila's Azimio Mass Action Underway in Nairobi [VIDEO]

Police officers lob teargas at Azimio leader Raila Odinga's motorcade outside Serena Hotel, Nairobi on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Police officers lob teargas at Azimio leader Raila Odinga's motorcade outside Serena Hotel, Nairobi on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Photo

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga announced that he will carry out his planned march to State House on Monday, March 20, in a bid to present his petition to President William Ruto over the high cost of living affecting Kenyan citizens.

Security officers were deployed to areas surrounding State House in Nairobi and at different points in the Central Business District (CBD) in preparation for the Azimio protests. 

In addition, there was heightened security in areas considered to be Azimio strongholds. 

Kenyans.co.ke will keep you updated on a minute-by-minute basis. Keep refreshing this page for updates.

3:16 pm: Azimio leader Raila Odinga announced mass demonstrations every Monday until their demands were met. 

2:49 pm: A convoy ferrying former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and other Azimio la Umoja leaders was teargassed leaving Serena Hotel in Nairobi for a press conference.

A water canon containing liquid with chilli pepper was sprayed on a crowd accompanying the former Prime Minister.

{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/U-r3IButV9o.jpg?itok=hrHqQ27a","video_url":"","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}

2:34 pm: Several Azimio politicians were arrested for trying to access Raila's meeting at Serena Hotel. Minutes later, they were released. 

2:21 pm: EALA MP Winnie Odinga arrives at Serena Hotel where Azimio Leader Raila Odinga and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka are reportedly situated.

2:09 pm: Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua asks Raila to call off the mass action in Nairobi.

2:02 pm: Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o appeals to the police to arrest demonstrators destroying property. 

"Kisumu demonstrations were largely peaceful until a few hooligans infiltrated the crowd and started destroying property. I wish to appeal to the police to identify and arrest the culprits and establish if it could be true that they had been sponsored by some groups or individuals to tarnish the name of Kisumu residents," he stated. 

2:00 pm: Azimio Members of Parliament lamented that the government had withdrawn their personal security detail during the planned mass action protest. 

1:12 pm: Windows of the newly refurbished Sarova Imperial Hotel and adjacent buildings in Kisumu County were broken by protesters. 

1:06 pm: Police officers lobbed teargas canisters to disperse a mob of protesters who attempted to rob commuters in a public service vehicle (PSV) in Nairobi.

12:16 pm: Police arrest former Nakuru County Assembly Speaker Joel Kairu and Nakuru ODM chairman Benard Miruka.

12:03 pm: A Nairobi-based mechanic was rushed to hospital after allegedly being shot at Toi market. 

11:50 am: A number of vehicles were stopped in protest-prone areas and passengers were robbed by protestors participating in the Azimio mass action. Woodley is among the affected routes.

11:25 am: A mechanic was rushed to the hospital for treatment after he sustained injuries from a gunshot while participating in the Azimio mass action in Kibera, Nairobi County.

11:03 am: ​​​​​​Business paralysed in Nairobi CBD as police clash with Azimio protestors. teargas rents the air

10:43 am: National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi and his supporters were arrested in Nairobi CBD. 

10:20 am: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga shares a clip of Senator Edwin Sifuna addressing a group of youth at KICC, assures protestors he is set to join the protest.

"Naona kazi imeanza tuko njiani nasi (I see work has begun, we are on the way coming)," he affirmed.

10:12 am: Kilifi Senator and Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo arrested as police crackdown on Azimio protestors intensifies.

9:49 am: Suna East MP Junet Mohamed was denied access to KICC by police officers.  

09:40 am: Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Azimio MP Peter Salasya join ongoing Azimio la Umoja protests in Nairobi as teargas rent the air. Sifuna led the protestors into the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

09:25 am: Little protest activities in Kisumu as locals go about their businesses. The road leading to Martha Karua's residence in Karen was also clear.

Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo was arrested by police officers at Nairobi CBD on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo was arrested by police officers at Nairobi CBD on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Twitter

09:05 am: Police officers arrest Azimio la Umoja protestors who convened outside KICC building in Nairobi CBD and bundle them in a waiting lorry.

8:54 am: Azimio la Umoja protestors in Kibera pelt a vehicle belonging to Nation Media Group (NMG) with stones while clashing with the police.

8:27 am: Police officers chased away youth who sought to access KICC along Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).

8:10 am: Police officers lobbed teargas at protesters in Kibra who sought to march to Nairobi CBD. The demonstrators rattled the officers after they began chanting and pelting stones at them. 

Below is the video:

{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/y_Ercl76qt4.jpg?itok=Dsq6tpsc","video_url":"","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}

7:30 am: East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga complained that her electronics were hacked. She, however, affirmed that she would participate in the planned demonstrations.

"All electronics hacked! All completely unusable, all dead! Meet me in the streets," she stated.

7:25 am: There was little activities at Raila's home in Karen, Nairobi an hour into the scheduled mass action. The Media was not allowed past the roadblock mounted a few metres from the former prime minister's gate. 

7:23 am: In Kibra, police officers collected car tyres strategically placed by the roadside.   

7:15 am: Motorists who normally ply Processional Way and other roads leading to State House, Nairobi, were redirected to use alternative routes. GSU officers barricaded all the roads leading to State House. 

7.10 am: Security was beefed up on all roads leading to State House, Nairobi, as officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) were deployed to Processional Way. More police officers were sent to guard State House Gate A, B and C.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna joins Azimio mass action protests in Nairobi on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna joins Azimio mass action protests in Nairobi on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Photo
Edwin Sifuna
  • . . . . .