Fierce confrontations between police and protesters in Kiambu, Machakos

Businesses remained closed in Kiambu County as police battled protesters, with Limuru and Kikuyu towns shutting down completely.

The police were deployed in the towns as early as 6am on Monday, the police men and women braved chilling weather that is being experienced.

By 8am, running battles were witnessed in towns with police and youngsters engaging in cat and mouse games. The youth would pelt police with stones and run in a specific directions and in the melee others would light up tyres on roads.

At Limuru town, youths engaged policemen who were battling them to make sure they did not go to the nearby Nakuru Nairobi highway, the youths tricked the police by using alternative routes to access the highway and specifically Kwambira bridge.

On the bridge police called for reinforcement as the numbers grew by the second and before long the highway was a no go zone.

The battle on the bridge over the busy highway prompted the police to use live rounds to scare the surging crowds.

There was no motoring activities on the highway as well as the Thogoto mutatrakwa road, tankers which commonly use the road were seen parked at Gitaru and along Mai Mahiu road fearing being caught up in the protest.

David Mucheru on of the truckers told the standard that he parked his truck fearing that the youths may commandeer them like it was witnessed in other protest.

“I was caught up last time and tens of protesters hikes a lift in this vehicle and asked m to drop them in Kikuyu town, it was a tense moment as I could be seen to be transporting goons which can have consequences,” Mucheru said .

Matatus also kept of the roads there by paralyzing transport in Kiambu, teachers allowed schools in the county to leave by noon for fear of transport crisis. Many could be seen walking home in groups as teachers had advised them.

Meanwhile, numerous youths were arrested as a firce battle between protesters and police brought Machakos Town to a standstill. 

The busy town was deserted safe for protesters and anti-riot police prompting closure of all businesses. 

Those caught up in the melee hurriedly closed their businesses and scampered for their safety as teargas covered the whole town in smoky arena. 

The demonstrators resisted the police with some picking the canisters and throwing back to the officers.

However, at time the police appeared to overwhelm the protesters at the town center managing to clear and put out bonfires in the streets.

But on the other hand the demonstrators appeared to overpower the police at the Marikiti area of the town where they lit fires. 

No incidents of looting of business premises had been reported by late afternoon.

Traders counted huge lost business, accusing the government of failing to listen to the youth to avert more escalation and loss of property.

Major businesses affected in the town included banks and supermarkets.

Protesters who talked to The Standard vowed not to relent on their mission until the day the government will listen to them. 

"Whether they maim or kill us we shall not relent until the government listens to us," said one of the descending voices.