Two days after more than 2,000 armed invaders left a trail of devastation on former president Uhuru Kenyatta's vast Northlands Estate, life is only slowly returning to normal.
On March 27, the intruders showed up and started terrorizing the neighbourhood with machetes and clubs.
At the same time, a gas company owned by Raila Odinga, the head of the Opposition, in Embakasi was attacked.
Every Monday and Thursday, Odinga has called for rallies, accusing President William Ruto of stealing last year's election and failing to rein in the rising cost of living.
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Since the demonstrations began last week, police have used water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds. At least two people have died as a result.
When others erected improvised structures to symbolize an attempted takeover, the thugs, who appeared at ease with their purpose, drove sheep away from Kenyatta's property and used power saws to fell trees in full-view onlookers and media cameras.
A seller nearby remarked, "It was horrific what we saw; these individuals even dared to slaughter sheep on the spot. What kind of confidence is that I ask you"?
To disperse crowds on Monday, police in Nairobi and Kisumu, a city in western Kenya and an Odinga stronghold, used tear gas, aiming canisters at vehicles carrying journalists in the capital while a rampage by looters was underway.
As Odinga's convoy passed through a crowded Nairobi neighbourhood, police also deployed tear gas and water cannon, which caused residents to flee for cover.
The second documented fatality since the protests began on Monday when a student was killed by police fire at Maseno University, occurred in Kisumu, when one man was shot and killed.
On Wednesday, the roadside flower vendors were back in business when Capital FM News visited the Northlands.
When the gang disembarked from the trucks that had been ferrying them there, a flower vendor nearby at the time of the incident said he was compelled to quit his business.
In his account, he describes how some of them were transported by bus and came from two distinct directions—some from the bypass region and others from the other.
Paraphrase: Another vendor, who desired to remain unnamed, revealed that she also took off when she noticed.
On Wednesday, she went back to the scene to see if things had calmed down so she could assess the state of her business at that point.
The attackers also broke the water lines that the vendors use to water their flowers.
In contrast to Tuesday, when a sizable squad was deployed despite having stayed away on a crucial day, there were no uniformed police officers to be seen.
The invasion, which Raila Odinga called "acts of cowardice," has not received any public comments from President Uhuru Kenyatta or his family members.
Private security officers were visible patrolling the property area when the gangs entered the property, though.
Some of them had guard dogs, while others had bows and arrows.
One of the guards assured us that there were no government security personnel in the vast country.
Even as he pleaded with the public to desist from entering private property, Joseph Gichana said, "We are here to provide security, anyone who tries anything will face our fury and should not blame anyone."
Both Kenyans and foreigners reacted differently to the invasion.
Many Kenyans are working hard to feed their families due to rising prices for necessities, a falling local currency, and a record-breaking drought that has left millions of people without enough to eat.
Late on Wednesday, foreign diplomats released a statement denouncing the crimes but applauding the Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome's promise to take punishment against the culprits after an inquiry.
Odinga and other opposition figures have charged government officials with planning an attack on Northlands Farm and Odinga's Embakasi-based East Africa Spectre Limited, a gas company.
Let there be no misunderstanding here. According to Odinga, when Kenyans tried to improve their situation, Ruto used violence against them, and what happened on Monday is no exception.
The Opposition has identified Kimani Ichung'wah, the majority leader in the National House, as the primary offender. Ichung'wah has denied the accusations, saying, "I know I spoke about the Kenyatta land the prior day, but that does not mean I am engaged."
In addition to protesting the victory he claims was stolen from him by Ruto in the August 2022 elections, Odinga has vowed to hold nationwide demonstrations on Mondays and Thursdays until the Kwanza administration in Kenya lowers the cost of living.
