Parliament barricaded with barbed wire amid tight security for June 25 protest anniversary

Parliament Buildings in Nairobi were barricaded with barbed wire on Thursday morning as security agencies mounted heavy deployment around the precincts ahead of demonstrations marking the second anniversary of the June 25, 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.

Roads leading to Parliament were sealed off using razor wire and metal barricades, with police officers strategically stationed at various points around the area.

A video seen by the Star showed minimal movement of both vehicles and pedestrians in the early morning hours as authorities restricted access to key roads within the Central Business District.

Barbed wire was particularly visible around the roundabout leading to Parliament Road, creating a security perimeter around the legislative complex.

Several police vehicles were parked outside Parliament precincts, alongside water cannon trucks that have commonly been deployed during crowd-control operations.

The heightened security measures come as Kenyans mark two years since the historic June 25, 2024, protests, which culminated in demonstrators breaching Parliament grounds during opposition to the Finance Bill 2024.

Razor wire, a security barrier made of sharp-edged metal strips designed to prevent access and deter intrusion, is commonly used around prisons, military installations, and other high-security facilities.

However, in Kenya, the sight of razor wire around public institutions has increasingly become associated with periods of political tension and public demonstrations.

As dawn broke over Nairobi, the streets surrounding Parliament remained largely deserted.

Key roads, including Parliament Road, Harambee Avenue, and sections of Kenyatta Avenue, had been secured with multiple layers of razor wire and fencing, effectively restricting access to the area.

The security operation extended beyond Parliament.

Several major highways and roads leading into Nairobi were also reported to have police roadblocks.

Motorists travelling along Thika Road, Mombasa Road, and Waiyaki Way encountered security checks as authorities monitored movement into the capital.

The anniversary revives memories of June 25, 2024, a day that remains deeply etched in Kenya’s recent history.

What began as an online campaign against proposed tax measures in the Finance Bill evolved into one of the largest youth-led demonstrations witnessed in the country in recent years.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding the withdrawal of the bill, arguing that the proposed taxes would increase the cost of living.

The demonstrations escalated after crowds broke through security barriers and entered Parliament grounds, causing extensive damage within the complex.

The events that followed shocked the nation, with a section of security officers opening fire on protesters as clashes intensified.

The confrontation resulted in multiple deaths and injuries, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for accountability.