NAIROBI, Kenya- At least 11 people have been arrested in Nairobi’s Central Business District as protests against rising fuel prices unfolded on Tuesday, with police moving swiftly to contain the demonstrations.
Those arrested were picked up from areas around the city centre, including near the Kenya National Archives, and taken to Central Police Station, where they are being held awaiting arraignment in court.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud confirmed the arrests, stating that the suspects would be charged, even as he maintained that the situation in the city remained largely calm.
Witnesses said anti-riot police dispersed small groups of protesters shortly after they began assembling, preventing the demonstrations from gaining momentum.
The protests had been mobilised online under the #RejectFuelPrice campaign, driven by anger over the rising cost of living.
Despite the mobilisation, turnout remained low, with scattered groups of mostly young protesters briefly gathering before being broken up by police.
Business activity in the CBD continued largely uninterrupted, with authorities indicating that most shops remained open.
Heavy rains in Nairobi also appeared to dampen participation, with morning downpours disrupting movement and limiting crowd build-up.
The demonstrations were triggered by a recent increase in fuel prices, which has intensified economic pressure on households already grappling with high living costs.
By midday, the situation in the CBD remained under control, with a strong police presence deployed across key streets to deter further, even as isolated attempts to protest continued.
Analysts say the arrests could either discourage further protests or fuel more mobilisation, depending on how authorities handle the detainees and broader public concerns over the cost of living.
