NAIROBI, Kenya — It wasn’t just riot police patrolling the streets during the #SabaSaba2025 protests — Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers were also deployed along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway on Monday.
From Waiyaki Way in Nairobi to the Free Area in Nakuru, tensions were already simmering early in the day.
Bonfires blazed, boulders blocked lanes, and in some sections, frustrated youth took over the highway, leaving motorists stranded for hours.
One botched attempt to infiltrate a Naivas Supermarket in Naivasha triggered even greater concern, prompting a fast-tracked military response.
KDF officers, fully kitted in military fatigues and backed by armored vehicles, were soon spotted in key areas — including the Safari Centre in Naivasha. And while that might typically prompt panic, something unexpected happened: the public welcomed them.
Photos and videos captured interactions between the soldiers and civilians.
It was a sharp contrast to the scenes unfolding in downtown Nairobi, where regular anti-riot police were locked in running battles with Gen Z protesters.
The KDF, in comparison, appeared more symbolic — a steadying presence in an increasingly unstable situation.
Still, their appearance raised serious constitutional questions. Is military deployment in civilian protests becoming the new normal?
According to Article 241(3)(b) of Kenya’s Constitution, KDF may be deployed domestically in cases of disaster or to restore peace — but only under special conditions, and with Parliament’s approval.
The Defence Act also mandates that such deployment be published in the Kenya Gazette within 24 hours, outlining scope, duration, and areas involved.
This isn’t the first time the military has appeared on Kenyan streets in recent months. Back in June 2024, KDF officers were sent to guard critical infrastructure during opposition-led protests.
Those orders, signed by former Defence CS Aden Duale, remain in effect — meaning military boots can legally return to the streets without fresh announcements, depending on the threat level.
Whether this is a case of prudent crowd control or creeping militarisation depends on whom you ask. Supporters argue that the military helped restore calm on a day marked by disruption.
Critics warn it’s a slippery slope — a slow blending of civil order and military muscle that could normalize extraordinary measures in ordinary protests.
