NAIROBI, Kenya – Clashes broke out along Thika Superhighway on Monday afternoon as police engaged a small group of protesters attempting to march into Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) to mark the 35th anniversary of Saba Saba Day.
What began as a peaceful procession quickly descended into chaos after officers blocked demonstrators from accessing the city centre, triggering a tense standoff that escalated into running battles.
Videos shared widely on social media captured police firing multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse crowds, who regrouped defiantly, waving flags, chanting slogans, and riding motorcycles as they pushed forward.
The protests coincided with a massive security operation across the capital, as authorities mounted roadblocks on all major roads leading into Nairobi.
Thika Road, one of the city’s busiest highways, was a key flashpoint, with several demonstrators forced to abandon vehicles and proceed on foot.
Heavily armed police and armoured vehicles were stationed at key junctions to reinforce crowd control, while officers on foot attempted to contain the swelling numbers.
Police turn back motorists at a roadblock set up at Kahawa Wendani near Kahawa Garrison on Thika Road during Saba Saba Day.
City on Lockdown as Commemorations Begin
Saba Saba Day—Swahili for “Seven Seven”—marks the July 7, 1990 protests that catalyzed Kenya’s transition to multi-party democracy.
Once a symbol of political resistance, the date has been embraced by a new generation of young Kenyans demanding economic reforms, accountability, and protection from state violence.
Although Interior officials declared Monday a normal working day, large swathes of Nairobi resembled a city under siege.
The Central Business District remained largely deserted, with most businesses closed and a visible security lockdown in place.
Key access roads including Waiyaki Way, Jogoo Road, Mombasa Road, Kenyatta Avenue, Uhuru Highway, Kiambu Road, and Valley Road were barricaded, with only emergency and government vehicles allowed into the city centre.
Officials maintained that the measures were necessary to prevent infiltration by criminal elements posing as peaceful protesters.
However, critics and human rights groups argue the government’s crackdown is a violation of the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and has only served to inflame tensions further.
Broader Anger Fuels Protest Movement
This year’s commemorations come amid growing frustration over economic inequality, high youth unemployment, rising living costs, and repeated allegations of police brutality.
Many of the demonstrators are members of the Gen Z movement, which has emerged as a potent voice of dissent in recent weeks.
With protests also reported in Kitengela, Ngong, and other satellite towns, authorities remain on high alert amid fears of wider unrest.
