Kenya Locks Down Nairobi Major Roads Ahead Of Saba Saba Protests

Ahead of the July 7 Saba Saba protests in Nairobi, Kenyan authorities imposed a strict lockdown, sealing off major roads leading into the Central Business District with heavy police presence and roadblocks. The lockdown disrupted thousands of commuters and public service vehicles, sparking widespread frustration and criticism from civil society groups and ordinary citizens. Security forces barricaded roads near key government buildings, including the State House and Parliament, with razor wire and deployed anti-riot officers to prevent demonstrators from entering the city center. The protests commemorate the 35th anniversary of the 1990 Saba Saba movement, symbolizing the ongoing struggle for multiparty democracy, good governance, and justice for police brutality victims. Authorities justified the lockdown as necessary to maintain public order and protect lives, despite a court order banning such roadblocks. The tense atmosphere follows a recent wave of anti-government protests marked by violence and accusations of collusion between police and agitators.