Businesses remain closed in Kisumu as residents heed Raila’s protest call
March 20, 2023
Businesses remain
closed in Kisumu as residents heed Raila’s protest call
Various businesses within the Kisumu Central Business
district remained closed for the better part of the day as a section of the
residents heed Raila Odinga’s call for peaceful protests across the country.
From 6:00 am to the rest of the day in the Lake side City of
Kisumu, businesses remain deserted as their owners stayed away from the Kisumu Central
Business District for fear of their premise being looted.
Police remained vigil within the Central Business District
to areas of Kondele to ensure that law and order is maintained.
However, a section of protesters gained entry into the city
center and police had to use reasonable force to repulse them back to their
various estates.
Police were forced to use tear gas canisters to scatter away
the protestors within the CBD as they engaged them in running battles for some
hours.
A number of roads were barricaded as protestors lit bonfires
as police tried to remove them to clear the roads.
Kisumu Main Bus terminus remained a no-go zone for the
better part of the day as only those who were going to their various
destinations peacefully were allowed to pass through.
The protestors begun their peaceful demonstration from
Kondele area to the City Center where police blocked them from approaching the
Kisumu State Lodge.
Some few suspected hooligans pelted and damaged some shops,
a hotel and a supermarket within the CBD.
Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o has condemned the
incident terming as a very unfortunate one.
Nyong’o says the demonstration were very peaceful until a
few hooligans whose mission is yet to be established, infiltrated the crowd and
started destroying properties.
“These criminals posing as opposition supporters stoned and
damaged part of a hotel, a bank, a supermarket and a shopping mall within the
Central Business District.
Nyong’o has asked the police to commence investigations to
not only identify and arrest the suspected criminals but to also establish if
it is true that they had been sponsored by some groups or individuals to
tarnish Kisumu’s residents’ good name and Azimio La Umoja Supporters as
violent.
Nyong’o has appealed to the residents to help in protecting
the image and investments in the City and its environs.
Nyong’o has further appealed to the police to help in
protecting lives and property during public demonstrations.
“In future demonstrations, our people should apprehend and
hand over to the police anyone damaging property,” Nyong’o adds.
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