Police mounted roadblocks and restricted movement in parts of the country on Tuesday as Kenya marked Saba Saba Day, with officers screening motorists, blocking some public service vehicles and dispersing or arresting activists attempting to demonstrate in Nairobi.
The heightened security operation was most visible in and around Nairobi, where police officers were deployed on major roads leading into the Central Business District.
Motorists were screened at key entry points, while access to some parts of the city was limited in what authorities appeared to treat as a pre-emptive response to planned protests.
Along Harambee Avenue in Nairobi’s CBD, activists who had gathered to demonstrate were bundled into Subaru vehicles by suspected plainclothes officers. The circumstances of the arrests were not immediately clear, but the incident added to growing concern among rights groups over the policing of public demonstrations.
A section of activists who had planned to submit a petition to Parliament later addressed the media at All Saints Cathedral, where they accused police of blocking them and arresting five of their colleagues. They also criticised the barricading of roads around key government installations, saying the restrictions interfered with their constitutional right to assemble and present their grievances.
The protests were part of activities marking Saba Saba Day, a date historically associated with Kenya’s struggle for multi-party democracy and civic freedoms.
In recent years, the day has increasingly become a rallying point for activists and opposition figures seeking to highlight governance, accountability and economic concerns.
Police presence was reported along several major roads in Nairobi and its outskirts. Officers were stationed at the Mlolongo Expressway exit and entrance, the Mlolongo-Kitengela interchange, Bunyala Road roundabout, and the Haile Selassie-Uhuru Highway intersection.
Unlike the heavy restrictions witnessed on June 25 during the second anniversary of the deadly Anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests, there were fewer roadblocks on some routes. On that day, police thoroughly screened vehicles and turned back many motorists. On Tuesday, the Bunyala Road roundabout remained one of the few points where officers were actively screening motorists.
Mombasa Road, usually one of the busiest corridors into Nairobi, recorded reduced activity, with traffic flowing smoothly for most of the day. Police were stationed at various points along the road, but there were no immediate reports of major confrontations.
On Thika Road, however, commuters were heavily affected. A roadblock was erected at Kimbo, where police allowed private vehicles to proceed but blocked matatus from accessing the highway. The restrictions left hundreds of commuters stranded at Githurai 45, with many unable to travel to work or access the city.
The disruption of public transport raised concern among residents who said they were caught up in security measures despite not taking part in protests. Some commuters were forced to walk long distances or seek alternative routes.
In Kitengela, the situation remained calm, with police officers deployed strategically across the town. There were no reports of major demonstrations or confrontations, although the visible security presence reflected the broader national alert around the day’s activities.
In Mombasa, activists staged a peaceful demonstration to commemorate Saba Saba Day under tight security. The coastal city remained largely calm, with officers monitoring the procession. No major incident had been reported by the time of publication.
In Lodwar, Turkana County, the streets remained peaceful, with residents going about their daily routines. There were no visible protests in the town, and local activity continued without major interruption.
People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua criticised the police operation, accusing the government of using roadblocks to suppress civic expression.
Speaking while opening a PLP office in Nyamataro, Kisii, Karua said Kenyans should be allowed to express their views peacefully.
“The government should never erect blockades like they have throughout the country today. It is a shame; let us keep the peace and uphold our freedoms,” she said.
Her remarks echoed concerns raised by activists, who said the state should distinguish between peaceful demonstrations and acts of lawlessness. They argued that blanket restrictions on movement risk punishing ordinary citizens and undermining the constitutional protections won through the same democratic struggles that Saba Saba represents.
Police had not immediately issued a detailed statement on the reported arrests or the reasons for blocking some roads and public service vehicles. However, security agencies have in the past defended similar measures as necessary to maintain order and prevent violence during protests.
The day’s events reflected the delicate balance between public order and civil liberties, especially at a time when protests remain a sensitive issue following the deadly 2024 demonstrations against the Finance Bill.
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