Police officers on Monday, March 20, lobbed teargas canisters to disperse a mob of protesters who attempted to rob commuters in a public service vehicle (PSV) in Nairobi.
The protesters who had red berets stoned the 14-seater matatu in Woodley Estate along Ngong Road, forcing the driver to stop the vehicle in the middle of the road.
They then used the windows to access the matatu and began robbing passengers of their valuables, as pedestrians watched.
However, a contingent of police officers deployed in the area were alerted of the attack and lobbed teargas to disperse the mob. The victims are said to have lost goods of unknown value.
Meanwhile, motorists using the Lang'ata Road-Ngong-road bypass were also confronted by goons who took advantage of the ongoing mass action to rob motorists.
The armed men and women paraded themselves on the road to force the motorists to slow down after which they attempted to enter the cars.
Uncooperative motorists who drove off were pelted with stones.
Commuters in the Central Business District were caught in the crossfire between police officers and protesters. This is after a teargas canister was lobbed near a bus full of passengers at the Kencom stage.
A number of matatu operators ceased operations within the city in the wake of the demonstrations, leaving those seeking to exit the city stranded.
The confrontation between the police and the protesters came after Nairobi Regional Commander Adamson Bungei on Sunday, March 19, declared the protests unlawful.
Azimio Parliamentary leaders Stewart Madzayo, the leader of the Minority in the Senate, and Opiyo Wandayi, the leader of the Minority in the National Assembly were arrested by police officers.
The coalition party's party leader Raila Odinga was yet to head to the CBD but assured his supporters that he would join them in the course of the day.
