KENYA : Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and several other protesters have been arrested in Nairobi CBD.
Omtatah was apprehended along with a group of protesters who had chained themselves together at Aga Khan Walk in Nairobi CBD, following repeated failed attempts by the police to disperse them.
Elsewhere, A woman handed flowers to police officers in Nairobi CBD during the #EndAbductionsKE protests.
In videos shared online, the woman is seen carrying multiple flowers, which she offers to the officers while pleading for peace.
She later kneels before them, urging an end to abductions and calling on the police to stop brutalizing young Kenyans for criticizing President William Ruto’s regime.
“I beg please receive this in the name of Jesus. We want peace. Please I beg I am on my knees begging you to end this brutality,” she said.
“You are all our children, uncles and fathers to the children who are being abducted. We are here to say end these police abductions, end this police brutality.
She goes on saying,” you are also our brothers stop killing our children, stop beating and oppressing them. The country needs us all and we are here for peace.”
The #EndAbductionsKE march officially kicked off in Nairobi CBD, with protesters seen carrying placards featuring popular silhouettes created by missing visual artist Kibet Bull, while chanting and singing in solidarity for an end to enforced disappearances.
Several key roads leading into the CBD were barricaded, with officers frisking Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) to identify any protestors being transported into the city.
By midday Monday, matatus were barred from accessing the CBD as police closed off Kenyatta Avenue to public service vehicles.
Chants of “Kasongo, Wako Wapi?” echoed through Nairobi CBD as protesters urged President William Ruto to address the ongoing disappearances of Kenyans critical of his regime.
Meanwhile in Embu, police engaged protesters in running battles, lobbing tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
At the same time, Police lobbed tear gas to disperse anti-abduction protesters at Aga Khan Walk, Moi Avenue and Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi CBD as businesses remained closed.
Earlier, in Kitengela, police set up roadblock at the town’s entrance on Namanga Road. Vehicles were inspected and a police helicopter could be heard hovering overhead.
Kenyans in Australia kicked out protests as they sent a message to President William Ruto to take action and resolve the current security issues in Kenya.
Videos circulating online showed the group, armed with placards and posters bearing the names of all the youth reported missing in December, chanting anti-government slogans while sharing messages of encouragement with Kenyans.