Kenyan police teargas anti-corruption protesters in Nairobi

 Kenya's police have teargassed protesters holding a peaceful demonstration against alleged corruption including ft of supplies for fight against COVID-19

At least 12 demonstrators from a group of 100 protesting in different parts of Nairobi, capital, were arrested by police, said central business district police chief Mark Wanjala.

Picketing and protesting are rights guaranteed by Kenyan constitution but police argue that y dispersed Friday's demonstrations because of concerns that large garings could le to spre of coronavirus.

However, protest organizer, Wanjeri Nderu, who runs a consumer watchdog site on Twitter called 'Buyer beware," charged that police were being used to silence demonstrators.

“We cant continue like this. Ors are balling (enjoying) from proceeds of ft and we are dying,” she said. “ reason we are being overtaxed is because y (government leers) want to cover this big hole in ecomy caused by ft of public resources.”

Independent rights activist Ndungi Githuku, lamented that activists were being treated like criminals.

“When exposing a crime is treated as committing a crime; it's because we are being ruled by criminals," he said.

Kenyans have expressed outr throughout week on social media platforms over anuncement that anti-corruption ncy is investigating ft of millions of dollars of supplies from Kenya Medical Supplies Authority.

Officials are investigating alleged ft of supplies of personal protective equipment worth millions of dollars donated by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, according to anuncement. reports.

Kenya is ranked as one of most corrupt countries in world with a position of 137 out of 180 countries on annual survey by global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International.

Kenyan anti-corruption activists say country loses as much as 30% of its $27 billion annual budget to graft.

Separately Friday, doctors in Nairobi started a strike over working conditions during COVID-19 pandemic and a lack of health insurance. Nairobi goverr Mike Sonko appealed to doctors to resume work saying that COVID-19 is a challenge to all health workers and urged ir union to eng in talks.