Police deployed a long-range acoustic device (LRAD), commonly referred to as a sound cannon or sound blaster, during the June 25 anniversary protests in Nairobi as demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Videos circulating online showed a vehicle-mounted device emitting a powerful high-pitched sound as anti-riot police blocked opposition leaders and protesters near the heavily secured Parliament precincts.

The device was used alongside a large-scale security operation that included razor wire barricades, water cannons, roadblocks and heavily armed police officers stationed around key government installations in the city centre.

The Sound Cannon is a specialised communication and crowd-control system designed to project highly focused sound over long distances.

📌 What You Need to Know

Originally developed for military and maritime security operations, the technology is now also used by law enforcement agencies in several countries.

Additionally, the device can function in two main ways. First, it can broadcast voice instructions clearly over large distances, making it easier for security agencies to communicate with crowds during emergencies, protests, or evacuations.

Secondly, it can emit extremely loud warning tones or high-frequency sounds intended to disperse crowds or force people to move away from restricted areas.

Depending on the model and distance, LRAD systems are capable of producing sound levels exceeding 120 decibels, significantly louder than normal traffic or a concert speaker.

Because the sound is concentrated in a specific direction, people standing directly in front of the device experience the noise much more intensely than those farther away.

Human rights organisations and medical experts have in the past raised concerns over the use of sound cannons during protests, warning that close-range exposure could potentially cause hearing discomfort, dizziness, disorientation or temporary hearing damage.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke