Youth-led protests have paralysed transport and disrupted business in several towns today as Kenyans mark Saba Saba Day — remembered for the 1990 push for free elections and multiparty democracy.
Every year, peaceful protests are held on 7th July to mark the date when Kenya’s constitution was challenged, allowing the formation of other political parties. Today’s commemorations, however, have seen key highways and roads blocked, disrupting transport and paralysing business activities in major towns and cities.
The Mwea-Embu highway has been closed at Ngurubani and Kimbimbi areas, while the Kerugoya-Kagumo-Karatina road has been blocked at Kagumo town. At 9am, protesting youths were seen lighting a fire on the road in the Ngurubani area in Kirinyaga County.
In Zimmerman, a group of youthful protesters blocked the road in the Kamiti area. The protesters lit fires on the road as business premises remained closed. In Rongai, a major roadblock has been set up between Rongai town and Multimedia University, manned by a large contingent of anti-riot police.
The same was happening in many other parts of the city, where people from the wider Nairobi area were blocked from entering the city centre and nearby places ahead of the Saba Saba protests.
As of 6am Monday, the capital seemed inaccessible for many residents, workers, and businesspeople either heading to town or various destinations through the CBD.
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A heavy police presence at various points, including the Nyayo Stadium junction, Pangani, the Kenyatta Hospital roundabout, and roads leading to State House.
In the police barricades, Thika Road was blocked at Pangani, Mombasa Road was blocked at Nyayo Stadium, Kiambu Road was blocked near DCI headquarters, and Ngong Road was blocked at the City Mortuary.
Several people heading to various destinations for work and other activities reported being turned away as early as 5am.
The developments follow a Sunday evening move, where police blocked hundreds of Nairobi-bound youth at the Dongo Kundu Bypass in Mombasa.
The youth from Nairobi who had attended the annual Summer Tides Festival in Diani were stopped near Likoni, as police reportedly stated that they were heading to attend Saba Saba protests.
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