There is a growing fear on the streets of Nairobi after suspected plainclothes police officers began arresting Saba Saba protesters using vehicles with covered or unreadable license plates.
During the demonstrations along Harambee Avenue in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), eyewitnesses watched in shock as young activists were roughly handled and bundled into the boots of unmarked Subaru station wagons.
What has caused the most public anger is how the rear number plates of these vehicles appeared deliberately blurred or defaced, making it impossible for the public to trace them.
This operational style has sparked a massive debate online and on the ground, with many Kenyans asking hard questions about accountability.
Usually, law enforcement officers are required by law to be easily identifiable to prevent cases of forced disappearances or illegal abductions.
However, the dramatic scenes captured in the heart of the city showed men in civilian clothes dragging struggling youths into cars without showing any official identification or badges.
As the photos went viral on social media, citizens raised concerns over the legality of using hidden number plates during daytime security operations.
Human rights defenders are now calling on the police leadership to clarify whether these are genuine officers or criminal gangs operating with impunity.
When vehicles have no clear registration and the men inside have no badges, it leaves the public completely helpless, unable to know where their missing loved ones are being taken or who is responsible for their safety.