As Kenya prepares for the Saba Saba protests, security measures intensify, with roads leading to key governmental sites barricaded and businesses closed, amidst rising demands for accountability and justice against police violence.
Nairobi Braces for Nationwide Protests as Security Forces Take Control
Nairobi Braces for Nationwide Protests as Security Forces Take Control
All major access roads to central Nairobi are sealed off in anticipation of significant anti-government protests scheduled for July 7.
In a proactive response to the anticipated nationwide protests, Kenya's security forces have effectively sealed off all major access points to central Nairobi. The city center appears deserted as businesses shutter their doors and a strong security presence patrols the streets. Numerous schools have also opted to keep students at home amid safety concerns.
Early-morning commuters, along with travelers who stayed overnight, found themselves trapped at various checkpoints located as far as 10 kilometers from the city center, permitted passage granted only to select vehicles. Major roads leading to pivotal government establishments, such as the president’s residence and the Kenyan parliament, are presently barricaded with razor wire.
The police issued a statement on Sunday evening affirming their obligation to protect life and property while maintaining public order. The protests, scheduled for Monday and referred to as Saba Saba, which translates to "7 July" in Swahili, serve to commemorate the struggle for multiparty democracy in the 1990s. Organized chiefly by the youth, the demonstrations demand improved governance, accountability, and justice for those affected by police brutality—a continuation of a wave of anti-government protests that has intensified over the last year.
This past June, a violent day of protests resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals, alongside the looting and destruction of thousands of businesses, echoing earlier anti-tax demonstrations from the previous year. The recent protests have faced escalating violence, fueled by reports of infiltrators dubbed "goons" engaging in looting and violence against protesters. Civil society groups have raised alarms regarding potential collusion between these groups and law enforcement, claims which the police have firmly rejected.
A recent armed attack against the headquarters of a human rights NGO in Nairobi, where a press conference advocating for an end to state violence was being held, underscores the perilous atmosphere preceding the protests. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the original Saba Saba protests, a landmark event that helped dismantle one-party rule in Kenya. The government's brutal response to those protests, including the arrest and torture of demonstrators like veteran politician Raila Odinga, continues to resonate in the nation's quest for democratic freedom.
Early-morning commuters, along with travelers who stayed overnight, found themselves trapped at various checkpoints located as far as 10 kilometers from the city center, permitted passage granted only to select vehicles. Major roads leading to pivotal government establishments, such as the president’s residence and the Kenyan parliament, are presently barricaded with razor wire.
The police issued a statement on Sunday evening affirming their obligation to protect life and property while maintaining public order. The protests, scheduled for Monday and referred to as Saba Saba, which translates to "7 July" in Swahili, serve to commemorate the struggle for multiparty democracy in the 1990s. Organized chiefly by the youth, the demonstrations demand improved governance, accountability, and justice for those affected by police brutality—a continuation of a wave of anti-government protests that has intensified over the last year.
This past June, a violent day of protests resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals, alongside the looting and destruction of thousands of businesses, echoing earlier anti-tax demonstrations from the previous year. The recent protests have faced escalating violence, fueled by reports of infiltrators dubbed "goons" engaging in looting and violence against protesters. Civil society groups have raised alarms regarding potential collusion between these groups and law enforcement, claims which the police have firmly rejected.
A recent armed attack against the headquarters of a human rights NGO in Nairobi, where a press conference advocating for an end to state violence was being held, underscores the perilous atmosphere preceding the protests. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the original Saba Saba protests, a landmark event that helped dismantle one-party rule in Kenya. The government's brutal response to those protests, including the arrest and torture of demonstrators like veteran politician Raila Odinga, continues to resonate in the nation's quest for democratic freedom.
