Coffin carrying protesters, pitched street battles mark Gen Z demos in Kisii 

There were pitched battles for the better part of Wednesday in Kisii Town as Gen Z demonstrators faced off police officers in riot gear street to street.

The town had woken up to a chaotic start with pockets of protesters lighting up tyres at the restive Capital Roundabout.

By 11 am, the protests had gathered pace drawing in more youth and even high school students out on half term recess.

Vehicular traffic in and out of town was halted as the demonstrators blocked roads with barricades and stones.

Outside the Kenya News Agency offices, a middle class a restaurant was looted by hungry protesters.

In Central Kisii, most business continued to remain closed with traders lamenting losses.

Even local banks which had early opened for business were forced to close as the demos quickly turned chaotic.

As the demos swirled, Head of the Presidential Delivery Eliud Owalo checked into the town to inspect works at the Cancer Centre with anti-riot police in town.

Owalo is on official tour of Gusii region assessing progress of government funded projects.

He addressed journalists briefly at the site before filtering out.

Outside, the protesters, in hundreds, kept reuniting after a tear gas or two to keep the tempo up often chanting slogans castigating the government.

By 4 PM, some were seen carrying a coffin along the Kisii-Ogembo highway chanting Ruto must go.

There was however beefed up security around key installations among them the Kisii Woman Representative Donya Toto offices.

The offices had been a target by rowdy stone throwing protesters in the past protests

Down town, traders closed businesses in a huff Wednesday morning as street urchins lit up fire on tyres.

A spot check showed most stalls in the town already empty with traders fearing looting.

Hezron Oteri, a shop owner told journalists he was not sure if to open or not.

“It is 9.30 am already and definitely the situation here looks very volatile. As a business person am not happy because this portends huge loses to us,” he said.

Oteri however asked the youth turning up in the streets for the demonstrations to exercise restraint and avoid looting.

“Whether we shall suffer loses today or not, let our youth protest peacefully,” he stated.

Rapid deployment units from the Administration police were deployed to quel the protests , engaging the youth from street to street.

The youth demanded economic reforms and accountability from the government.

Jane Moraa, a cloth seller, said though she supports protests,she abhors the looting and vandalism by goons.

“We support the right to protest, but we are the ones bearing the brunt,” she said.

At the bus park, there were few matatus by press time.

The matatu owners grounded their vehicles for the better part of the morning.

And in the streets, the youths vowed more protests saying they were angry with abductions and killings of online activists.