11 arrested in Nairobi as a handful of protesters turn up for demos against hiked fuel prices.

Nairobi's Central Business District remained calm on Tuesday as planned demonstrations over hiked cost of fuel and economic hardship flopped.

Only a handful of protesters braved the chilly morning to show up.  And beneath the calmness, tension remained palpable within the City Center, as the contingent of security officers deployed to control the anticipated crowds repulsed small groups of youth who attempted to form-particularly along Moi Avenue.

Nairobi Police Commander Issa Mohammud who patrolled the town, said 11 protesters were arrested, three of whom, The Standard witnessed, being roughed up by police officers at Kenya National Archives.

The trio chanted anti-government slogans at the foot of the Tom Mboya statue before the officers moved in, bundled them into a police van and drove off.

Ironically, for the first time in years, the police contained the protests without lobbing teargas to disperse demonstrators.

Mohammud assured Nairobians that "everything has been contained. People don't need to worry," even as some shops started to close by 12.30 pm.

He described those closing shops as "cowards promoting protests, telling journalists "you can see 98 per cent of businesses are open. Don't bring fear."

All the while, businesses and traffic were largely normally flowing within the central business district, even as civilians undertook their normal errands.

Those who spoke to The Standard decried the mishandling of protesters by police officers terming the actions uncalled for.

"It is unfortunate what is happening to our nation. We have a right to demonstrate and we must be respected. These officers are protecting an oppressive regime," said Jacob Amala, asserting that "we will stand firm to defend our nation."

Kennedy Onyango, a tout plying the CBD-Thika route said: "Citizens are protesting because there are no jobs. The cost of living is unbearable."

"I am supposed to earn Sh1,300 per day but i can't get that now because the cost of fuel has increased," he added.

In Machakos town yesterday afternoon, hell broke loose after anti riot police engaged demonstrators in a fierce confrontation.

The incident prompted immediate closure of all businesses within the town centre as those caught in the melee scampered for safety .

The protesters, mostly youth, were demanding the lowering of fuel prices which had made difficult lives of Kenyans.

Within a period of thirty or so minutes the town remained a deserted zone with only a few human beings locked up in hotels and other business premises where they were caught unaware with no escape route.

The defiant protestors resisted the police encounter with teargas and rubber bullets wailing all over in the town.

The number of police officers appeared increasing everywhile with reinforcement received from surrounding police stations.

A number of business fraternity in the town urged the Government to find a lasting solution to the unrest costing them dearly.

By the time we went to the Press no incidents of casualties were witnessed or reported.

Some of the protesters told the Standard that it was not their intention to cause such a scenario but to push the Government to listen to the Kenyans' outcry.

A number of protesters were arrested and taken to machakos police station.

Also affected was the transport sector within the town on bodaboda Tukutuk and matatu operators who had no customers to ferry after everybody had disappeared.

Despite the tension going down in some streets, police continued to keep vigil all over.

The call for demonstrations had been the talk of town for the last one week, with some civil society organisations and groups of youth (Gen Zs) pushing for it on social media platforms.

The opposition leaders also joined the frail, issuing a seven-day ultimatum to the government to reduce the pump prices or else they mobilise for mass protests. The days will lapse Wednesday.

Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority in its latest review, effected a week ago, saw the prices climb to Sh197 and Sh196 from Sh178 and Sh166 per litre for super petrol and diesel respectively. 

Public service vehicle operators had adjusted fares, with traders warning that the higher cost of fuel would inevitably be passed on to consumers.

The government has defended the increase in the cost of the essential commodity, arguing that it is driven by rising global costs linked to the Middle East war pitting Iran against the United States and Israel, even as its allied leaders dismiss the protests.

"There are others saying that because fuel prices have increased globally, they will hold protests in the country. I want to ask, if they protest, will the cost of fuel decrease?" President Willia Ruto said on Wednesday 15, during his tour of Kisii and Nyamira counties