How Police Plan to Crush Raila’s Protests

Senior police bosses have held a series of high-level meetings as the clock ticks ahead of a three-day anti-government protest called by the opposition coalition Azimio La Umoja.

A police commandant who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter revealed that law enforcement officers will first be deployed to hotspots and areas that witnessed violent protests in the last round of demonstrations.

According to the source, there are concerns that the protestors might build momentum out of the city and make their way into the CBD, overpowering police.

The police have identified key areas where they will put roadblocks to stop any advancing demonstrators who might storm the CBD.

“It is not a foreign thing. In policing a chock point (areas to mount roadblocks) can be anything including geographical land mass, bridge, roundabout or crossing path which can be used by officers to cut off an advancing threat,” the source revealed.

In order for the security agencies to respond to the threats, the commanders have designed a multi-layered approach including setting up anti-riot posts on major choke points, Quick Reaction Teams and Standby Special Units.

Composition of Police Units

An Anti-riot Police Squad will be made up of a platoon under one commander, two gunners and twenty officers who will use a variety of tactics and equipment to achieve their goal of dismantling the protest.

Following a public outcry, police officers have been directed not to use live bullets which has since been blamed for deaths that were recorded in last week’s demonstration.

Already, the United Nations and foreign embassies have urged the police not to use excessive force to handle the protests.

Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs)

The police have set up quick response units that will be on standby and be deployed whenever police officers on the frontline are overpowered as was the case in Mlolongo and Kitengela last week.

QRTs will consist of highly trained and experienced officers and specialised personnel, such as SWAT team members or technicians.

It is expected that the QRTs will carry a variety of weapons and equipment, including assault rifles, handguns, body armor, helmets, and vision gadgets.

On Wednesday, July 12, Quick Reaction Teams were accused of taking part in an operation that led to the death of several people in Kitenge and Mlolongo towns.

A fleet of unmarked Subaru Cars were recorded while dropping off specialised officers who immediately began shooting protesters who were vandalising the Nairobi Expressway.

Standby Specialised Unit

The third layer of the anti-riot operation will be cemented by Standby Specialised officers who will be called in to neutralise threats, especially in Nairobi, in case the nationwide mass action goes out of hand.