A viral video from Citizen TV’s YouTube live feed has captured a dramatic scene on Kimathi Street in Nairobi. The footage shows a massive group of protesters surrounding a military vehicle occupied by snipers, who remained remarkably calm amid the chaos.
The protesters (mainly Gen Z), chanting “Ruto Must Go,” seemed unmoved by the presence of the armed military personnel.
The video shows the military convoy making its way through the crowd before returning to Lang’ata Barracks, following a court order that declared the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to control tension in the Central Business District (CBD) illegal.
A group of Gen Z protesters matching along streets of Nairobi
The event (peaceful ring-fencing of the military vehicle) today has stood in stark contrast to the violent clashes seen earlier in the week.
On Tuesday, over 23 people were shot dead and hundreds injured as demonstrators stormed the Parliament buildings. The scenes of bloodshed and chaos from Tuesday have cast a long shadow over the ongoing protests.
However, today’s demonstrations appeared more peaceful. The KDF troops, expected by many to respond with force, remained composed, and no live bullets were fired. This unexpected calm brought a momentary sense of relief amidst the tension gripping the city.
Yesterday, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Madam Faith Odhiambo filed a petition that sought to declare the deployment of KDF troops to Nairobi CBD as illegal, adding that it was against the requirements of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 which spells that KDF troops should be deployed only when Kenya is facing external threat such as terror attack.
High court Judge Mugambi was supposed to issue a ruling by 1700 hrs and by the time of going to the press, no ruling regarding KDF Deployment has been issued. Other reports indicate the ruling could be issued this evening and Kenyans are waiting to see what next.
