Security has been beefed up across Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) as the country marks Saba Saba Day amid fears of renewed anti-government protests.
A spot-check by Tukio on Monday morning revealed a heavy presence of security officers strategically stationed at key entry points and junctions within the city.
Most of Kenyans didn’t manage to report to their work stations due to fear.
Mounted police patrolled parts of the CBD, while roadblocks were erected on major roads leading into the city centre including Waiyaki Way, Kenyatta Avenue, Jogoo Road, and Thika Road.
Shops and offices in the CBD remained largely shut, with business owners fearing a repeat of the violence and looting witnessed during previous protests.
Read also:Ichung’wah Accuses Gachagua’s Allies of Sponsoring Anti-Government Demos
Popular public transit hubs such as Moi Avenue, the National Archives, and Kencom—usually teeming with commuters—were eerily deserted.
The annual Saba Saba protests, which commemorate the 1990 push for multiparty democracy in Kenya, have taken on new energy this year. A digital youth-led movement has been rallying Kenyans online, calling for government accountability, economic reforms, and an end to police brutality.
In anticipation of possible unrest, learning institutions in urban areas have suspended physical classes, advising students to stay home until Tuesday.
The move follows chaotic scenes from the June 25 protests, where several institutions reported disruptions.
Similar security measures were reported in Mombasa, where police mounted roadblocks in Nyali, Likoni, and Changamwe. Businesses in the coastal city also shuttered early, with some shop owners reinforcing their premises with metal grills or relocating their stock to avoid losses.
Police have limited entry into the Nairobi CBD to emergency vehicles and government officials only, signaling the seriousness with which security agencies are treating the threat of mass protests.
