Police truck stationed at GPO roundabout, Nairobi/SCREENGRAB
Sections of the Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) recorded minimal activity on Tuesday morning as a heavy police presence dominated key streets and intersections ahead of the anticipated Saba Saba demonstrations.
In a video seen by The Star, traffic within Nairobi's CBD remained light by mid-morning, with only a handful of private and public service vehicles navigating the usually busy streets.
Pedestrian traffic was also significantly reduced, with many streets appearing unusually quiet compared to a normal working day.
A police lorry was stationed at the roundabout near the General Post Office (GPO) along Kenyatta Avenue, with officers maintaining presence at strategic points across the CBD.
The usually bustling pavements and bus stages were sparsely populated as many Nairobi residents appeared to stay away from the CBD.
Movement into and out of the city centre remained limited during mid morning hours, with relatively few vehicles accessing the area.
Public transport services were also affected, with a reduced number of matatus operating routes into the CBD.
The calm atmosphere in the city followed extensive security measures announced by the National Police Service (NPS), which said enhanced checkpoints would be mounted across various roads within Nairobi as part of efforts to maintain law and order.
"As a security measure, there will be enhanced police checkpoints on various roads within Nairobi city on July 7, 2026, to control both human and vehicular movement. Members of the public are urged to obey and cooperate with the National Police Service to ensure that peace and order prevail," the service said in a statement issued on the eve of the demonstrations.
The heightened deployment comes amid plans by a section of activists to hold Saba Saba protests in Nairobi.
The organisers have maintained that the march will proceed, arguing that they formally notified police of the planned procession and insisting the demonstrations are intended to remain peaceful while calling on Parliament to address various national concerns.
Police, however, have maintained that they did not receive any notification for a procession as required under the law.
The security operation was evident across the city centre, with officers maintaining patrols and monitoring movement at key locations.
The reduced movement came as police maintained roadblocks at several entry points on the outskirts of Nairobi, including sections of Thika Road and Waiyaki Way, limiting the number of vehicles accessing the city centre.
This marked a sharp contrast to the normal weekday bustle that typically characterises Nairobi's CBD, where thousands of commuters, traders and shoppers converge daily.
