Nyeri and Nanyuki towns were the shock towns that joined nationwide protests called by the opposition to protest skyrocketting cost of living.
Protesting the huge rise of fuel and what they termed as costly tax regime by President Ruto Nyeri and Nanyuki matatu operators removed their vehicles from the road.
The main matatu and public service termini were left empty spaces where drivers, touts and travellors turned them into play grounds.
Men and women played football and jumping ropes before doing processions to protest what they described as a big betrayal by the government
They said they had tried hard to put up with the high cost of living but the government had become insensitive and continued to tax them more and more.
“We have tried to stay calm but we are now tired. Punda amechoka. Everyday new taxes are being levied. We rejected the Finance Bill but the government now wants to force ot down our throats. We are tired,” said an angry Nyeri matatu owner.
Protests spread across the country with Nairobi bearing the worst brunt with sections of the Nairobi Expressway destroyed by angry protestors.
Violent demonstrations were also witnessed in Kisumu, Mombasa, Kisii and Nyamira.
There were reports of protestors shot and killed by police while police vehicles were also set ablaze.
Thousands of commutter were left stranded with public transport withdrawn from roads while many businesses especially in Nairobi and Kisumu remained closed.
Azimio leaders Martha Karua, Peter Munya and Jeremiah Kioni were teargassed and chased out of Meru town where they were leading demonstrations.
The biggest upset was Nyeri and Nanyuki towns joining the protests since they are considered to be the turf of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
