Live Blog: Demonstrators take to Nairobi streets to protest rising cases of abductions

Human rights activists and families of missing persons are protesting in Nairobi CBD over the rising cases of abductions allegedly linked to rogue police officers.

The organisers have described the demonstrations as the “mother of all protests.”

This month, at least six youths who were critics of President William Ruto on social media have been abducted. They include; Peter Muteti, blogger Billy Mwangi who was abducted in Embu, while other individuals—including Bernard Kavuli, Steve Mbisi, Gideon Kibet, and Ronny Kiplang’at have also gone missing in separate incidents across Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, and Embu.

Anti-riot police in Nairobi CBD remove passengers from a bus ahead of the planned demos. (Justine Ondieki)

3:20 pm: Police officers clear debris burnt by protesters along Moi Avenue in Nairobi. Pockets of protesters still engaging police.

3:00 pm: A uniformed officer escorts to safety a woman on crutches along Tom Mboya Street as confrontation between protesters and police moves to the streets of downtown Nairobi.

2:30 pm: An injured protester who had collapsed along Aga Khan Walk during the #EndAbductionsKE protest is being taken to a waiting ambulance for further medical attention.

2:15 pm: Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, among 10 anti-abduction protesters arrested by police on Agha Khan Walk, Nairobi, and driven to Central Police Station in a police Land Cruiser.

1:45 pm: Busia Senator Okiya Omtata and other protesters hold on to each other and a chain to avoid being arrested by police along Agha Khan Walk, Nairobi, where they have staged protests.

1:25 pm: During the ongoing #EndAbductionsKE protest in Nairobi, vocal youth Shakira Wafula collapsed after allegedly being hit by a teargas canister. She was quickly assisted by fellow protesters and has been rushed to the hospital for treatment.

1:20 pm: A protester presents flowers to anti-riot police officers out to quell protests along Agha Khan Walk in Nairobi, urging them to stop brutalising Kenyans in the ongoing #EndAbductionsKE protests.

1:00 pm: Police lob tear gas at the #EndAbductionKe protesters, causing several journalists and demonstrators to scramble for safety. The protesters regrouped shortly after and continued with the demonstrations. 

12:30 pm: Several businesses in the Nairobi Central Business District remained closed after a confrontation between police and protesters. The battle between police and protesters has moved to Tom Mboya Street and Moi Avenue and is escalating to other parts of the city.

12:15 pm: Kenyans alongside Busia Senator and human rights activist Okiya Omtatah chant "Mapambano yaendelea!" (the struggle continues) during the #EndAbductionKe protests at Nairobi's Aga Khan Walk. They are calling for the release of abducted youths and an end to abductions.

12 pm: Police lob tear gas at the #EndAbductionKe protesters, causing several journalists and demonstrators to scamper for safety. The protesters regrouped shortly after.

11:30 am: Protestors occupy the Agha Khan Walk, next to Reinsurance Plaza, as protesters demand an end to forced disappearances during the ongoing #EndAbductionsKE campaign.

11:00 am: Mombasa police arrest several protesters who are demanding an end to forced disappearances during the ongoing #EndAbductionsKE campaign. Chanting 'End Abductions,' the demonstrators call for urgent action to address the rising cases of forced disappearances in Kenya.

Protestors have occupied Agha Khan Walk, next to Reinsurance Plaza, as protesters demand an end to forced disappearances during the ongoing #EndAbductionsKE campaign. pic.twitter.com/IdDai3EaeJ

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) December 30, 2024

11:00 am: Some of the protesters arrive in the CBD ahead of the planned protests over the rising cases of abductions. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has reported 82 abductions since June, with 29 individuals still missing. Seven cases have been recorded in the past two weeks alone.

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