Business activities were halted Tuesday after protesting youth engaged police officers in running battles in Machakos town.
Police swung into action after the youths blocked all roads leading to the town's centre on Tuesday.
The protestors in their tens barricaded the roads using stones lit tyres and live fires during the protests.
They played hide and seek games with a continent of the antiriot officers.
The officers included those from the Kenya Police Service, Prison police and the DCI.
All shops, and business establishments were shut down as the battles between police and protestors took place over the Finance Bill 2024.
The demonstrations were still ongoing by the time of going to press.
Some of the youths hurled stones at the officers forcing the cops to hurl tear gas canisters at them.
The youths conducted the protests in groups; some blocked the Machakos - Wote Road at Machakos Level 5 Hospital entrance while others blocked the Machakos road exit to the Nairobi - Mombasa highway at the street lights within the town's CBD.
Traders were forced to lock themselves inside their business premises as more youths joined their counterparts in the streets chanting anti-Finance Bill messages.
Earlier, some youths barricaded the Nairobi - Mombasa highway at Syokimau footbridge and in Emali in Machakos and Makueni counties respectively.
Transport from Machakos and to Nairobi and along the Nairobi - Mombasa highway was paralysed for the better part of the day as the demonstrations took place.
Protestors who spoke to the Star said they won't relent until their concerns were addressed by the government.
