NAIROBI, Kenya- Plainclothes police officers arrested several protesters who wanted to demonstrate outside the Office of the President at Harambee House in Nairobi during the Saba Saba commemorations on Tuesday.
The protesters had gathered near the entrance to the President’s office when officers in civilian clothing moved in to disperse them and make arrests.
Y News reporter witnessed a brief standoff as police handcuffed some demonstrators before escorting them to a waiting Subaru car.
The demonstrations formed part of wider Saba Saba protests held in Nairobi and other parts of the country to mark the anniversary of the July 7, 1990 pro-democracy movement, while also raising concerns over governance, police conduct and accountability.
The arrests came despite a heavy security deployment across the capital, where the National Police Service had mounted checkpoints on major roads leading into and within Nairobi ahead of the demonstrations.
Earlier, Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud said police had not received formal notification for any demonstrations planned for July 7 and warned that gatherings not conducted in accordance with the law would be treated as unlawful.
Some protest organisers, however, maintained they had notified police of their intention to hold peaceful processions.
Tuesday’s operation mirrored the security response witnessed during the June 25 Gen Z memorial protests, when police erected roadblocks around Nairobi’s Central Business District, restricted access to key government installations and arrested dozens of protesters.
Rights groups criticised those measures as disproportionate, while the government defended them as necessary to maintain public order.
By Tuesday afternoon, police maintained a strong presence around Parliament, Harambee House and other government offices as demonstrations continued in parts of the city.