The country’s youth are preparing for demonstrations in Nairobi and other major towns to protest against police brutality, abductions, and injustices, as they mark the first anniversary of last year’s deadly protests.
In anticipation of the demonstrations, police have intensified operations and blocked major roads leading to Parliament to prevent protesters from accessing the legislature.
A spot check by The Star revealed a heavy deployment of anti-riot police in and around Parliament.
Officers have also been stationed along major entry routes into Nairobi, including Waiyaki Way, Mombasa Road, Thika Road, and Ngong Road.
Residents coming from Eastlands are being stopped at Donholm, while those from Thika Road are walking from Muthaiga.
There’s a police roadblock at Guru Nanak, just before Ngara stage, with no PSVs being allowed into the CBD. Passengers are being forced to walk to the CBD.
On Waiyaki Way, police have blocked the road at the Kangemi flyover and are conducting heightened inspections on private vehicles to flush out suspected protesters.
Residents using Ngong Road are walking from Upper Hill, while those from Mombasa Road are trekking from the Nyayo Roundabout.
Lang'ata Road has been blocked at T-Mall, Ngong Road at City Mortuary roundabout, Jogoo Road at Makongeni and Argwings Kodhek at Valley Road Junction a nd Uhuru Highway at Haile Selassie roundabout.
Kiambu Road is blocked at Muthaiga Golf Club.
Officers in full riot gear have also been deployed along Kenyatta Avenue, Moi Avenue, and around the National Archives area, although no crowd activity had been observed at the time of reporting.
In the city centre, many businesses remained closed and the streets were largely deserted after opposition leaders declared Wednesday a ‘public holiday’ in honour of Gen Z protesters who died in 2024.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has said that the June 25 protests mark the beginning of Kenya’s "third liberation."
In a statement ahead of the demonstrations, Maraga said this moment represents a turning point in Kenya’s history, as young people across the country take to the streets to defend the Constitution.
“Just like the first liberation—the fight against British colonialists—this generation of young people, the Gen Zs, has paid the ultimate price with their blood,” he said.
