Police have this morning cordoned off Tonotoka grounds, the venue for a planned rally by disgruntled residents who had announced that they would boycott Mashujaa day celebrations to protest a recent government directive.
Armed police officers camped at the venue, making it impossible for the protesters who had planned a rally to run parallel to Mashujaa day celebrationsto convene.
The traders and truck drivers announced the protest, claiming that the government's order that all goods from the port needed to be transported via the SGR was ill-informed and would see them lose their jobs.
The showdown was announced by the disgruntled traders who maintained that they would boycott the Mashujaa day celebrations in protest and instead hold a prayer meeting in a bid to compel the government to rescind the order.
A day later, on Tuesday, October 15, Mombasa county commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo banned all planned rallies in the county on Mashujaa day, paving way for today’s clash.