Day 1: Azimio La Umoja has stepped up its anti-government protests against the Kenya Kwanza administration, blaming the top leadership for escalating the cost of living and being numb to the pleas of Kenya.
The opposition also wants to be involved in the reconstitution of the IEBC, claiming that the government is planning to weaken the electoral body in the run-up to the 2027 elections.
Azimio further wants the IEBC to be compelled to open election servers to an audit.
This has drawn the ire of President Ruto's camp which has vowed to deploy all resources available to ensure protection of property and peace during the mass protests.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki cautioned protestors against violence, adding that he would not allow the country to plunge into anarchy.
Seen as a form of retaliation, the government has withdrawn the security detail of Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Mama Ngina Kenyatta. All eyes will be on the opposition and the government ahead of the three-day protests.
Keep it here as Kenyans.co.ke keeps you updated as everything unfolds. Refresh this page for updates.
5:02 pm: Media reports alleged that Raila's bodyguard, Maurice Ogeta was released. This was, however, disputed by ODM communications director Philip Etale who claimed that he was yet to be released.
4:56 pm: Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama addressed the scuffle that ensued after he brandished a firearm at protestors.
"I was visiting the constituency and was informed about demonstrators vandalising my hotel. This is not a peaceful protest as alleged. Raila should admit that he lost the elections and wait for another five years for the 2027 elections."
4:43 pm: Raila asked his supporters to end the anti-government protests today at 5:00 pm. The Azimio leader urged the protestors to rest and resume demonstrations on Thursday, July 20.
4:32 pm: National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah claims the demands by Azimio are frivolous attempts to seek a power-sharing deal.
"We will not share this government. The Finance Act caters for the poor, we only added taxes for the rich."
4:18 pm: Former Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa's efforts to lead protests in Bungoma were thwarted after anti-riot officers dispersed the crowd.
4:02 pm: Azimio principal Martha Karua condemned the arrest of ten leaders during the mass protests. They include Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga and Kilifi County speaker Teddy Mwambire, MCA Mabatini Wilfred Odallo, Ngei Ward MCA Redson Onyango.
Others include Erick Otieno and Anthony Otsula (budget officers at Nairobi County Assembly), Maurice Ogeta (Raila's bodyguard) and Dennis Onyango (Raila Odinga secretariat spokesperson).
She demanded the immediate release of the detainees.
3:53 pm: Police managed to restore order at Mlolongo and curtailed efforts of protestors who attempted to access the highway.
3:42 pm: President Ruto maintained his stance that his government would not be involved in a handshake deal with the opposition.
"We are okay with having a dialogue as long as it involves the people of Kenya but we will not hold discussions on power sharing. Kenyans already made that decision at the ballot. There will be no handshake," he stated.
3:33 pm: Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro chided Azimio coalition principals, asking their whereabouts during the mass protests.
3:28 pm: Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua condemns the mass protests and notes that their plans won't prevail.
"Those seeking President Ruto at State House, I have placed all traps available, they have nowhere to go through. The president is well protected. Have you seen what has happened in Nairobi? No one will be allowed to destroy Kenyans' properties," he stated.
3:12 pm: Anti-government protestors clash with other anti-Azimio demonstrators in Kibra.
2:59 pm: Police flee for safety after they were overpowered by protestors at Jacaranda in Nairobi.
2:54 pm: Protesters have blocked the Egesa area along the Kisii-Kisumu road.
2:52 pm: Police lob tear gas at a group of youths who had blocked the Ring Road as well as the bridge linking Lindi and Kisumu Ndogo in Kibra.
2:50 pm: A teenage boy is rescued by Mathare residents after he was injured in a scuffle between police officers and demonstrators.
2:46 pm: Police shoot dead a protestor at Mathenge Grounds, Nakuru town, leading to barricades erected on the road by the demonstrators. It is reported that the deceased was a member of the boda boda community.
2:37 pm: The situation escalates in Mombasa County as police continue to engage with anti-government protestors.
2:24 pm: Three protesters suffer gunshot wounds in Nakuru and two others in Makueni. Nakuru Town East Sub County Police Commander Martin Wekesa confirmed that the trio was rushed to Nakuru Level Five Hospital for treatment.
2:13 pm: Police chase anti-government protestors along the Mlolongo town link road.
2:06 pm: A police officer, disguised as a journalist, apprehends a protestor in Mathare, Nairobi.
1:58 pm: Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua hints at international bodies sanctioning Azimio principals over the mass protests.
1:52 pm: Section of Kericho MCAs stage protest by walking out of President William Ruto's Ksh1.3 billion Kimugu Water Project commissioning event citing harassment by his security team.
1:50 pm: NYS officers arrest several protesters in Kangemi.
1:48 pm: Government restores security at Mama Ngina Kenyatta's Muthaiga and Ichaweri homes a day after withdrawal.
1:31 pm: Protestors uproot Rongo's police station sign and use it to block the road during the anti-government protests.
1:21 pm: Former Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru urges Nanyuki residents to desist from joining the mass protests.
1:14 pm: Police engage anti-government protestors in running battles in Nairobi’s Imara Daima.
1:07 pm: The situation escalates in Kibra as helicopter patrols monitor where protestors have convened.
1:04 pm: Protestors break into a church in Mathare, take out a water tank and burn it on the road. As a result of the confrontation with police, six people are nursing injuries including three children.
12:52 pm: Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango and Woman Representative Njeri Maina lead MCAs and residents in anti-government protests in the county.
12:46 pm: Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama draws out his firearm after being confronted by a group of rowdy youth in Shabaab area.
12:38 pm: Investigative journalist John Allan Namu reveals that one of his crew members was arrested and taken to Kayole police station.
12:33 pm: Clerics urge President Ruto to repeal the Finance Act, 2023 to curtail the wave of anti-government protests rocking the country.
12:28 pm: Protestors turn a highway in Kisumu into a bathroom while singing anti-government chants.
12:21 pm: Police prevent a group of rowdy youth from accessing Kamukunji Grounds by lobbying teargas to disperse the crowd.
12:15 pm: Fire trucks are deployed to Kisumu as fire erupts at Jua Kali market, minutes after police lob teargas to disperse the protestors.
12:09 pm: Police mount a roadblock at the entry of Murang'a town as they inspect all vehicles.
11:57 am: Anti-riot officers disperse residents who were playing football along Hospital Road in Kisii.
11:54 am: Media reports allege Martha Karua and Maina Njenga have been blocked from leaving a local hotel in Nanyuki.
11:46 am: Protestors in Shabaab area in Nakuru continue to engage police in running battles.
11:43 am: Kenyatta Family hires private security officers to guard her home in Muthaiga and businesses in Ichaweri, Gatundu, a day after her security was withdrawn.
11:34 am: Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga, his Personal Assistant Victor Katana and County Speaker Teddy Mwambire were arrested in Mtwapa, Kilifi County few minutes after leading anti-government protests.
11:26 am: Police open fire in the air to disperse protesters in Number 10 area, Mathare.
11:23 am: Transport disrupted in Makueni as protestors barricade the road with stones and light bonfires.
11:15 am: A group of youth play football as police officers watch in Kisii roads.
11:13 am: Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron leads a section of MCAs and residents in anti-government protests at Manyatta and Nyalenda areas.
11: 07 am: Protesters light fires and barricaded roads in Siaya town.
11:03 am: Two people hospitalised at Oruba Nursing Home in Suna West, Migori County after they were allegedly shot with rubber bullets.
10:56 am: ODM Communications Director Philip Etale claims that Raila's bodyguard Maurice Ogeta was abducted by unknown people in plain clothes suspected to be police officers.
10:50 am: Police restore order after engaging anti-government protesters in running battles at Miracle area in Nakuru.
10:46 am: Citizen TV reporter Ayub Abdikadir is forced to end live reporting after officers lob teargas canisters at protestors in Kamukunji Grounds.
10:43 am: Police scamper for safety as they engage with protestors in running battles in Woodley, Kibra.
10:40 am: Three anti-government protestors are arrested at Jacaranda Grounds as security detail is beefed up in the area.
10:35 am: Police officers search vehicles heading to Mombasa CBD.
10:33 am: Anti-riot police lob teargas to disperse protestors along Jacaranda Grounds, Nairobi.
10:24 am: Police block access to Mombasa CBD as protestors mount pressure on the security forces. The protestors barricaded Nyali Bridge and blocked entry from Likoni Mainland by erecting barriers at Aga Khan Centre.
10:20 am: Police officers forced to use teargas to disperse United Democratic Alliance (UDA) supporters who gathered in Mombasa.
10:18 am: Water cannon trucks patrol Mombasa town as it disperses gatherings. Several bonfires lit across various roads as police officers engaged rowdy protestors.
10:15 am: Anti-riot police manage to restore order in Kisii and clear the stones along the Kisii - Kilgoris road.
10:12 am: UDA Secretary-General Cleophas Malala meets with residents in Kakamega and urges them to maintain peace during the protests.
9:58 am: Protestors in Kisii block Kisii - Kilgoris road in Mwembe area.
9:53 am: Security is beefed up across various towns as heavy presence of police making patrols was witnessed in Nakuru, Meru, Mombasa and Kisumu.
9:46 am: Police arrest anti-government protesters in Homa Bay town.
9:46 am: Anti-riot police restore peace in Nyamira after protestors light a bonfire on the Metamaywa-Mosobeti Kebirigo road.
9:28 am: Officers lob teargas around Meru police station to disperse rowdy youths engaging in mass protests.
9:26 am: Anti-riot police stationed along the Mlolongo area ahead of the mass protests.
9:21 am: Reports allege that Azimio la Umoja principal Martha Karua and former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga will lead protests in Nanyuki.
9:20 am: Businesses closed as minimal activity witnessed in Homa Bay town.
9:15 am: Anti-government protesters burn tyres near Olympic Primary School in Kibera.
9:04 am: Transport disrupted across various towns as several Public Service Vehicles (PSV) owners withdrew their vehicles along designated stages.
9:01 am: Roadblocks erected along Ngong Road and at Haile Selassie Avenue.
8:54 am: Police have blocked all roads leading to State House along Processional Way at Nyerere Road junction as the officers intensified inspection of all vehicles.
8:45 am: Antigovernment protestors light bonfires on various roads in Kisumu County.
8:32 am: Transport disrupted in Kisii as protestors barricaded a section of the highway at Daraja Mbili.
8: 30 am: A team of National Youth Service personnel deployed to Muindi Mbingu Street in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).
8:04 am: A group of youth light bonfires along the road in Kangemi, Waiyaki Way. Police officers, however, restored peace and enable traffic flow.
7:40 am: Businesses remain closed and minimal activity was witnessed in Nairobi.
7:23 am: Security was beefed up in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) and other areas touted to be Azimio strongholds.
