Businesses on Standstill as Raila Returns

Businesses were on standstill for the better part of Friday in Nairobi with many left counting losses amounting to millions.

On Friday, the National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga jetted back into the country from a 10 day tour in the United Stated, United Kingdom and Germany.

His supporters turned up in thousands to give him what was termed as a heroic welcome that had been planned to kick off the moment his plane touched ground at Jommo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) but the police could not let them.

As early as 5am, the police had already cordoned off the airport, barricaded all roads leading to it including the busy Mombasa Road, Jogoo Road and the Outering Road.

At around 9am, the agitated crowd started pushing to have access of the airport, which according to the police, it is a “protected area.” Hell broke loose. Stones started flying. Cars were stoned, windscreens shuttered, people injured and the air was rented with teargas, blood, tears and gunshots.

For hours, Mombasa Road, Jogoo Road, Outering Road and Haille Selassie Roads were impassable. Heavily armed security personnel were on standby, guns blazing, ready to repulse any moving object along the roads.

The crowds continued charging and for a moment, people threw fear to the wind. The more the police shot at them, the more they came forward. It was like they feared no man, no god and no death. Water cannons were brought in. They rained on people with itching water. But instead of running away, people seemed like they were walking in a normal raining day with nothing to fear.

At one point, the police got tired of shooting and resorted to throwing stones. They too started stoning motorists and passersby and they seemed desperate. All this time, the people kept coming forward and the police were running out of options.

In summary, what happened on Friday can only happen in Movies. Not even Somalia has ever witnessed what happened in 20 years they have been without a formidable government.

The aftermath?

Five people were confirmed dead though international media is quoting a figure of 12, at least five cars were set a blaze, shops broken into and looted, hundreds injured and as the sun went down, behind, it left a shocked nation.