General Service Unit (GSU) officers barricaded several roads in Nairobi as protests by the Azimio la Umoja coalition on Monday, March 20, heats up.
There was a heavy presence of officers on several roads both within and without Nairobi CBD in addition to GSU trucks positioned along the roads to prevent the entry of protestors.
Roads leading to the State House including the Processional Way were barricaded allowing only select vehicles to pass through.
Moreover, other roads including University Way, Dennis Pritt and Arboretum Road were barricaded with security officers deployed in the area.
Other roads barricaded include Juja Road near the Moi Air Base - which also had a heavy presence of officers. Motorists plying the road were forced to go around the barricade.
Security officers were additionally deployed at different points in the Central Business District (CBD) limiting movement with most affected roads including Harambee Avenue, City Hall Road and Parliament Road.
Moi Avenue in the CBD was also barricaded by the police officers who were deployed in large numbers in the city.
Moreover, police officers stationed a water canon along Nyerere Road barricading the road.
Motorists who normally use the roads in Nairobi were redirected to alternative routes.
Earlier in the morning, Police officers chased away youth who sought to access KICC along Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD). Shortly after, a number of the youth who had convened outside the landmark building were arrested by the GSU officers.
Separately, other officers had lobbed teargas at protestors in Kibra who were intending to march to CBD leading to chaos in the area including the pelting of stones at the officers.
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.
On Sunday. March 19, Nairobi Police had maintained that no roads would be closed ahead of the mass action.
