NAIROBI, Kenya – Tensions flared early Wednesday as a bonfire lit by unidentified individuals briefly disrupted traffic at Mama Ngina stage in Kinoo, Kiambu County, hours before nationwide Gen-Z-led protests were set to begin.
Thick black smoke from burning tyres and debris rose above the busy road, reducing visibility and forcing motorists to swerve around the obstruction.
In viral videos posted online, the flames burned defiantly in the center of the road as early morning commuters navigated the chaos.
Police responded swiftly, dousing the fire and clearing the road to restore normal traffic flow. The use of bonfires is a hallmark of Kenyan protest culture, often used to signal unrest and temporarily block major roads.
The early morning flare-up is seen as a symbolic precursor to what could be a charged day across the country.
Gen Z protesters have vowed to hold peaceful demonstrations to mark the anniversary of the deadly June 25, 2024, protests that saw unarmed citizens shot by police. The youth-led movement has since morphed into a broader call for accountability, transparency, and justice.
In Nairobi, the government wasn’t taking any chances. Anti-riot police lined key roads leading to State House, deploying razor wire and conducting random stops on motorists and pedestrians.
Similar measures were taken around Parliament Buildings, with officers instructed to bar unauthorized access.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who earlier toured parts of Nairobi at dawn, continued his visibility blitz with stops at Jogoo House and the Inspector General’s office.
Flanked by top police commanders, he emphasized the government’s commitment to law and order but urged restraint on all sides.
“We are here to protect lives and livelihoods,” Murkomen stated. “We respect the right to protest—but it must be peaceful and lawful.”
As Nairobi wakes up to razor wires, roadblocks, and the memory of last year’s bloodshed, the country stands at a crossroads—caught between a rising youth revolution and a government determined to keep the lid on dissent.
