Nairobi police have arrested 10 people during the Saba Saba commemoration, with Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud saying the suspects were picked up in Pangani and the Central Business District over alleged involvement in unlawful demonstrations.
Mohamud said six of the suspects were arrested in the Pangani area, while four others were picked up within the Nairobi CBD.
He said police had not received any formal notice for the demonstrations, maintaining that the gatherings were therefore not properly communicated to security agencies as required.
The police commander said the suspects will be arraigned in court on Wednesday to face various charges.
Mohamud also said no deaths or injuries had been reported in Nairobi during the commemoration.
The Saba Saba day was marked amid heightened security in the capital, with police mounting roadblocks on key routes leading into the CBD. The roadblocks slowed movement and affected access to parts of the city.
Mohamud acknowledged that the security checks had disrupted some members of the public who were trying to access the city centre. He said police regretted the inconvenience caused, but defended the operation as necessary.
According to him, the roadblocks were intended to screen people entering the CBD and protect businesses from possible disruption or destruction.
Saba Saba, marked annually on July 7, remains a significant date in Kenya’s political calendar. It is associated with the push for multiparty democracy in the 1990s and is often used by activists and political groups to raise concerns over governance, rights and accountability.
This year’s commemoration in Nairobi was closely monitored by security agencies, with police maintaining a visible presence in and around the city.
Rights groups and activists have in the past criticised heavy police deployment during demonstrations, arguing that peaceful assembly is protected under the Constitution. Police, however, have often insisted that public gatherings must be properly notified and managed to prevent disorder.
Mohamud said officers would continue to maintain order and ensure businesses and members of the public are protected.
The arrests are expected to draw further scrutiny, particularly from civil society groups that have raised concerns over the handling of public demonstrations.
The 10 suspects are set to appear in court on Wednesday, where prosecutors are expected to present the charges against them.
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