Nane Nane' Protests: 174 Arrested, Police Say They Were Unnotified

 In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• Police arrested 174 people nationwide during the 'Nane Nane' protests, with 126 arrests in Nairobi, 22 in Kitengela, and 26 in Emali.

• The protests saw minimal violence and property damage, with minor skirmishes in some towns and one officer injured in Nairobi.

Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli announced on Thursday that 174 individuals were arrested nationwide during the 'Nane Nane' anti-government protests. 

Speaking to journalists at Jogoo House in Nairobi, Masengeli noted that the protests had a low turnout across the country, with minimal instances of looting and property damage.

"Unlike the recent demonstrations that were marked by widespread destruction, looting, injuries, and loss of lives, today the country remained mostly peaceful, with normalcy prevailing," said Masengeli. 

He highlighted that there were only minor skirmishes in downtown Nairobi, Kisii, and Migori towns, where attempts to loot were effectively thwarted by police officers.

Masengeli also pointed out that arrests were made in Nairobi, Kitengela, and Emali for attempts to disturb the peace and disrupt normalcy. 

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Specifically, 126 suspects were arrested in Nairobi, 22 in Kitengela, and 26 in Emali.

The police chief criticized the organizers of the 'Nane Nane' protests for failing to notify the authorities of their plans, as required by law. 

Despite this, he assured that police officers were well-prepared and deployed accordingly, based on prior intelligence that indicated potential unrest.

"We recognize the supremacy of the Constitution of Kenya, particularly Article 37, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, demonstration, picketing, and petitioning of public authorities," Masengeli stated. 

"Even though the conveners failed to notify us of their intentions, we ensured adequate security measures were in place and advised the public to avoid areas that could become riotous."

On Wednesday, Masengeli had warned that the protests could be infiltrated by criminals, posing a threat to national security. 

He emphasized that the police would not hesitate to engage any such elements and urged the public to remain vigilant during the protests. 

He also cautioned protesters against trespassing on protected areas like Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and State House.