Nairobi tense as police block protesters
Published: 04:07 PM,Jul 07,2025 | EDITED : 08:07 PM,Jul 07,2025
Protesters gather to block a main road
NAIROBI: Police blocked roads and heavily deployed in the deserted streets of Kenya's usually bustling capital on Monday to prevent gatherings to mark annual pro-democracy rallies after recent demonstrations descended into violent clashes. Many people appeared to be staying home rather than attend the so-called Saba Saba Day (meaning Seven Seven) marches to commemorate on July 7, 1990, when Kenyans rose up to demand a return to multi-party democracy after years of autocratic rule by then-president Daniel arap Moi.
Around midday, journalists saw running battles with a group of anti-riot police who fired teargas at a small gathering of around 50 young men, with some of the crowd throwing rocks at officers. Young Kenyans, frustrated over economic stagnation, corruption and police brutality, are once again engaging in protests that have degenerated into looting and violence, leaving dozens dead and thousands of businesses destroyed.
Protesters accuse the authorities of paying armed vandals to discredit their movement, while the government has compared the demonstrations to an 'attempted coup'.
On Monday, the streets of central Nairobi were quiet after police mounted roadblocks on the main roads, restricting entry to areas that were the epicentre of previous rallies.
Many businesses were closed for the day.
On Sunday, men, some armed with sticks, forced their way into the compound of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission during a press conference calling for an end to 'enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings'. The previous demonstration on June 25 — intended to mark the peak of last year's deadly anti-government rallies — turned violent and left 19 people dead, according to rights groups.
Police made hundreds of arrests. — AFP
Around midday, journalists saw running battles with a group of anti-riot police who fired teargas at a small gathering of around 50 young men, with some of the crowd throwing rocks at officers. Young Kenyans, frustrated over economic stagnation, corruption and police brutality, are once again engaging in protests that have degenerated into looting and violence, leaving dozens dead and thousands of businesses destroyed.
Protesters accuse the authorities of paying armed vandals to discredit their movement, while the government has compared the demonstrations to an 'attempted coup'.
On Monday, the streets of central Nairobi were quiet after police mounted roadblocks on the main roads, restricting entry to areas that were the epicentre of previous rallies.
Many businesses were closed for the day.
On Sunday, men, some armed with sticks, forced their way into the compound of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission during a press conference calling for an end to 'enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings'. The previous demonstration on June 25 — intended to mark the peak of last year's deadly anti-government rallies — turned violent and left 19 people dead, according to rights groups.
Police made hundreds of arrests. — AFP