While police authorities focused on Nairobi City to contain the planned Saba Saba protests, they forgot that this would leave towns around the capital in chaos.
After public service vehicles boycotted service and the city was sealed off, groups in satellite towns around Nairobi had a field day.
For almost five hours, the towns such as Kitengela, Ongata Rongai, Kiserian, Githurai, Kahawa West, Roysambu, Ngong and parts of Machakos were chaotic.
This is after the protesters in these towns blocked roads and started to target supermarkets for looting.
Others targeted police stations in the area with an aim of torching them.
Overwhelmed, the local police sought help from Nairobi. A special squad in civilian nicknamed Special Tactical Unit responded in 10 unmarked Subaru vehicles.
They started from Ngong Town, snaking through to Ongata Rongai, then to Kiserian, and later in Kitengela.
And within a short while, the blocked roads were opened and the mobs had retreated to their homes.
But this left a trail of deaths. Locals said many people were shot and killed or injured.
The team proceeded to Machakos as others cruised towards Roysambu, Kahawa West, Kiambu and Ruiru where chaos was reported.
They also said they had cleared the mess.
By then, some shops had been attacked and robbed by gangs.
The police vehicles moved in a tight formation, dispersing the mobs and clearing the roads.
The impact was felt as the groups retreated.
The convoy, which appeared to be under coordinated command, was composed of masked individuals wearing balaclavas and carrying high-caliber firearms with full magazine carriers, prepared for combat.
The group, operating with military-style precision, appeared unmistakably lethal.
Locals took videos of the group of police arriving and confronting the gangs that had choked the areas.
In one clip, a figure—unarmed and giving instructions—seemed to command the squad, reinforcing the impression of a chain of command within the unit.
Across the city and outlying towns, multiple casualties were reported in the wake of their operations with at least two people confirmed dead in Kangemi, three in Ngong, one in Kitengela, one in Kamukunji, and two others along Jogoo Road.
Despite being heavily armed, the squad showed little intent to carry out arrests.
Only one instance was documented in which two suspects were violently subdued, beaten, and bundled into one of the vehicles.
“This was necessary because the mob had plans for more destruction and robbery,” said an official aware of the operations.
Across Nairobi, the scale of security deployment was unprecedented.
The capital was transformed into a virtual fortress. Armored Personnel Carriers roamed the streets, helicopters hovered overhead, and anti-riot police flooded nearly every intersection.
At least 25 barricades were mounted.
Meanwhile, daily life was brought to a standstill.
Schools, especially public day primary and secondary institutions, suspended learning due to safety concerns.
Businesses remained shuttered across multiple urban centers, and transport disruptions left thousands stranded.
Police on Monday confirmed that 11 people died due to the chaos that rocked Saba Saba protests across the country.
Police said 52 police officers sustained injuries, while 114 civilians were injured during the protests.
According to the police, 125 police vehicles were damaged, 36 government vehicles were damaged, while 47 civilian vehicles were damaged.
Police have arrested 567 people participating in the protests across the country.
The police commended Kenyans for being law-abiding and heeding the call to maintain law and order.
However, police added that certain individuals remained determined to engage in acts of lawlessness that involved multiple criminal acts, including attacks on law enforcement officers and looting.
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