Authorities have explained how and why a mob stormed outside the gate of the State House in Nairobi on Monday afternoon.
During the drama, 12 of the about 300 people
were arrested and later released, police said.
This was after they had harassed and robbed some
motorists and pedestrians in the about 3 pm drama.
The group was confronted and chased away by a team of elite police as they tried to breach security there to “meet the president for lunch”.
The group consisted mostly of youth from slums near Eastleigh and Industrial Area, Nairobi.
They are alleged to have robbed and harassed motorists and pedestrians outside State House Gate A for several minutes before police arrived to disperse them.
Other police officers had to turn away cars from the scene as the rowdy gang was confronted by Recce police officers on Monday, March 10.
The group had trailed a presidential motorcade from Eastleigh to State House for what they termed as lunch.
They hoped to get their lunch from the President or governor Johnson Sakaja or a host of Members of Parliament who were in the entourage.
Police said they initially thought the group was to converge at City Stadium or City Hall but were shocked to learn they were behind the motorcade and wanted to breach the security barrier and enter State House.
They rode on motorcycles, and others hung dangerously on vehicles accompanying the president in his tour of the area.
They trailed the motorcade for almost 15 kilometers to outside State House gate
where they were intercepted by hawk G Company officials, witnesses said.
A witness wrote and said his daughter was
traumatized after witnessing the confrontation.
The officers had to call for reinforcements to handle the mob, which insisted they wanted to get into the State House.
Witnesses said the special squad arrived minutes later, heavily armed and pushed the group from the gate.
They were pushed back by the police squad and told to go
and wait for whoever they had an appointment with elsewhere.
The group moved to a nearby petrol station, where they waited for an hour before leaving after being “sorted” out.
By then, 12 of them had been arrested but later released.
Security agencies have assured the public that there was no immediate threat and that measures remain in place to safeguard the country’s most critical installations.
Ruto has commenced a tour of the city, and officials said the events of Monday indicated what to expect in the coming days.
He is expected to visit Mathare and Kasarani on Tuesday, March 11.
Security officials said they have enhanced their operations to tame such an occurrence.
This includes increasing the personnel to accompany the president and his team.
Earlier on, some of those in the tour had complained of being harassed by the
goons. They demanded money and other valuables.
On Tuesday, police said all routes the president would use had been secured.
