Roads deserted as police take over Mlolongo, Kitengela streets

Most roads in Machakos County are deserted with heavy police deployment ahead of the anticipated Nane Nane national protests.

A spot check by the Star along the usually busy Nairobi - Mombasa highway on Thursday established that there was normalcy along the road with very few motorists plying the route though.

Most traders in towns such as Mlolongo, Kyumbi and Machakos towns have closed shops with police patrolling the towns.

A similar situation was witnessed in the neighbouring Kitengela town, Kajiado County.

Athi River East subcounty police commander Anderson Mbae said more police officers had been deployed in the area than ever.

Mbae said the situation was normal by press time.

He said necessary security measures were in place to ensure normalcy was maintained as Kenyans go about their businesses.

"We have more police deployment today along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway than ever, the situation is calm as of now," Mbae told the Star by phone on Thursday.

The Nairobi-Expressway is equally under heavy police surveillance and patrols.

The Expressway is operational as usual.

The same situation was in the morning witnessed in Machakos town.

Heavy police are on Machakos town streets with several roads closed by the cops.

A road connecting Machakos to Kangundo has been barricaded at the Garden Hotel area within Machakos Township.

The closure has forced the few motorists getting into the town to use alternative routes.

The situation has led to the disruption of normal traffic flow in parts of Machakos County.

Most public service vehicles have kept off Mombasa Road among other routes within the county.

The number of travellers has equally reduced across the county.

No protests had erupted in the towns by press time even as tension was evident in the two counties.