Reports indicated that a total of 41 protesters were placed into
custody
and are due to be charged this morning.

Another group of about 100 protesters were also blocked enroute to
Ukunda airstrip where the delegates were due to land by plane from a
trip to Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

The demonstrators were keen to grab the attention of the ministerial
delegates who are converging at Leisure Lodge for the three-day
conference.

Led by former chairman of National Council of NGOs Oduor Ong'wen and
activists from Action Aid and Oxfam, the demonstrators engaged the
police in running battles most of the day.

Police sealed off the venue and repulsed demonstrators who displayed
placards opposing the imbalance of trade against poor countries.

At one point Ong'wen had to take refuge in a local mosque to avoid
arrest.

"We are saying the same thing the Government is saying, I don't know
why
they should disperse us," he said.

Coast Provision Commissioner Cyrus Maina had earlier toured the
conference venue to assess the security situation.

Led by the Kwale OCPD Patrick Mbarire, police officers laid three
tightly manned roadblocks on the road to Diani, the conference venue.

Police stopped all public transport vehicles at the roadblock and
flashed out suspected demonstrators.

The activists were later bundled into police lorries and taken to Kwale
and Ukunda police stations.