Why Were Nairobi Roads Closed on Saba Saba Day?
Nairobi witnessed a heavy police presence and near-total shutdown on Monday as Kenya marked Saba Saba Day, the anniversary of the 1990 uprising that pushed for multi-party democracy. With fears of new protests following weeks of deadly demonstrations, authorities blocked major roads and sealed off access to the city center. Many businesses remained closed, and streets were largely deserted.
Activist Hanifa Aden took to X, saying, “the police getting rained on as they block every road while we stay at home warming our beds,” before adding, “Total shutdown and forced holiday executed by the state.”
What Sparked This Year’s Unrest?
This year’s Saba Saba comes in the wake of nationwide youth-led protests driven by widespread frustration over corruption, economic stagnation, and ongoing police brutality. While social media has fueled civic awareness, the state’s violent crackdowns have discouraged many from participating in street demonstrations. Since June 2024, at least 80 people have died and dozens have been detained in protests that turned chaotic, with significant damage to businesses across the country.
On Sunday, a press conference organized by the Kenyan Human Rights Commission to protest extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances was violently disrupted by unidentified men armed with sticks.
How Are Citizens and Experts Responding?
Political commentator Nerima Wako noted the tragic cycle of violence: “Every time people organise a protest, they kill more people, so it just continues to feed off itself.” Gabrielle Lynch, an African politics scholar at the University of Warwick, criticized the government’s reliance on outdated strategies, stating, “They don’t seem to have realised the world is different. People don’t have the same inbuilt fear of the state.”
Despite the government’s alliance with opposition leader Raila Odinga, President William Ruto faces mounting public discontent as the 2027 election approaches. The state’s aggressive tactics may be eroding its grip on a population that’s increasingly connected, informed, and defiant.
By Lucky Anyanje
