Nairobi: Kenya’s security forces have blocked all major roads into central Nairobi ahead of planned nationwide protests marking the historic Saba Saba movement.
Much of Nairobi’s central business district was abandoned, with a visible heavy security presence. Businesses remained shuttered, and some schools advised students to stay home as tension gripped the capital.
Checkpoints were set up more than 10 kilometres from the city centre, leaving hundreds of commuters and overnight travellers left. Only a limited number of vehicles were allowed through.
In the city, barricades made of razor wire blocked access to key government buildings, including the State House and Parliament. Authorities say the security clampdown is a constitutional duty to safeguard lives and maintain public order.
The demonstrations dubbed ‘Saba Saba’ after the Swahili date for July 7, mark 35 years since the 1990 protests that led to Kenya’s transition to multiparty democracy. This year, the protests are driven largely by young people demanding better governance, accountability, and an end to police brutality.
Organisers say the protests aim to honour the legacy of past struggles while shining a light on current injustices. However, fears of violence remain high after recent demonstrations turned chaotic, with reports of infiltration by criminal elements accused of looting and attacking peaceful protesters. Civil society organisations have alleged collusion between these groups and the police, a claim the police have denied.
Tensions escalated further when an armed gang attacked the offices of the Kenya Human Rights Commission, where women activists were preparing to address state violence ahead of rallies.
The Saba Saba protests form part of a growing wave of anti-government demonstrations that have swept across Kenya since last year, highlighting deep public dissatisfaction with the political establishment.
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