By Joshua Cheloti

Deputy Senate minority whip Edwin Sifuna has described the media as heroes following the role they played during the Azimio protests in Nairobi on March 20, 2023.

The Nairobi Senator in a tweet on March 21, 2023, noted that the presence of journalists during the protests across the city and other parts of the country kept all protestors, including elected leaders safe.

Sifuna claimed the police had the intention of harming protestors but media presence ensured they did nothing against the law.

“Leo I salute the Kenyan Media. Your presence and your cameras SAVED LIVES yesterday. The Police were intent on harming peaceful protesters. They shot at unarmed civilians with their weapons and canons. You kept all of us safe by shooting back with your LENSES. You are all HEROES,” the Nairobi Senator tweeted.

The youthful legislator is among Azimio leaders that were teargassed as they assembled at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) early on Monday for the protests.

Narrating his experience with the police later in the day as the protests gained momentum, the ODM Secretary General said one of the officers had strangled him.

“They tried to strangle me in the streets while arresting me. They also went away with my blue T-shirt. Just return it to me. It has sentimental value,” Sifuna said.

During the protests that the opposition is using to push for the re-introduction of fuel and unga subsidies as well as electoral reforms, the police engaged Azimio supporters in running battles for the better part of the day.

Anti-riot police officers that were deployed all over the city were on numerous occasions forced to fire teargas canisters and water cannons in an effort to disperse protestors.

Most of the businesses in the city remained closed in fear of looting and destruction of property by protestors.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claimed the country lost over Ksh2 billion due to the closure of the businesses.

Azimio leader Raila Odinga has since announced that they will be holding similar protests every Monday.