Tension was high in Kibera slums as youth supporters from the opposition wing engaged anti-riot police in running battles.
Early Monday afternoon demonstrations turned chaotic as police officers, who had earlier in the day been summoned to oversee the situation in the area, blocked the demonstrating youth from proceeding to Nairobi streets where a major show was set to be launched.
According to an opposition youth leader in Kibera who sought anonymity for security reasons, anti-riot police who had been stationed near Olympic Primary School hurled teargas at any group of passers-by that exceeded three.
‘'How can the police carelessly hurl teargas at innocent pedestrians going along the road for their daily chores? We burnt these tyres as a sign of our anger against these policemen who have themselves turned chaotic,’' said the youth leader.
The youths blocked major roads in the slums with several businessmen and women closing their premises in fear of looting from the rowdy crowds that were gradually increasing in number.
In Nairobi streets, police officers took strategic positions to disperse any visible crowd that could be seen hovering around major streets in the city. Similarly, a big number of businesses remained shut during afternoon hours despite the heavy presence of anti-riot police.