While towns like Homa Bay, Kisumu, Embu, and the Coast remained calm and businesses operated normally, Nairobi was paralysed by police roadblocks ahead of Gen Z anniversary demonstrations.
Calm in Counties, Chaos in Nairobi as Kenya Marks June 25 Protest Anniversary
Across much of the country, Thursday morning passed quietly as Kenyans marked the second anniversary of the June 25, 2024 anti-government protests. But in Nairobi, heavy security deployment and roadblocks brought the capital to a standstill.
Business as Usual Outside the Capital
In Homa Bay, businesses opened as usual and public transport ran uninterrupted, with police and local administrators simply monitoring the situation. The Coast region told a similar story, with traffic flowing smoothly and businesses operating normally even as security officers were deployed along the Mombasa–Nairobi Highway and the Lunga Lunga route to keep watch.
Kisumu City stayed calm too, with shops open and transport running as security agencies maintained a presence across the city. Embu and its surrounding areas saw normal business and transport activity, with police stationed at key points along the Embu–Meru Highway purely to monitor movement.
Nairobi Tells a Different Story
The picture changed sharply in the capital. Anti-riot police mounted roadblocks on major roads leading into the Central Business District, effectively locking off access ahead of planned demonstrations commemorating last year's protest anniversary.
The closures triggered heavy congestion, leaving thousands of commuters stranded with limited alternative routes. Police at the roadblocks said the measures were meant to enhance security and protect lives and property during the demonstrations.
Government's Position on the Protests
A day earlier, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen had reaffirmed the government's commitment to the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. "The Government respects the constitutional rights of all Kenyans to peaceably assemble for whatever reason, on any day," he said, adding that police had received notification from organisers and would offer security and guidance.
He warned, however, that authorities would act against anyone using the protests as cover for violence, looting, or destruction of property, and disclosed that the DCI had opened investigations into individuals allegedly mobilising and financing violent activity ahead of the demonstrations. Murkomen also dismissed claims that the government was colluding with criminal gangs to disrupt the protests.
The anniversary comes amid lingering public anger over deaths and injuries from last year's protests. The government says it has so far paid Sh448.7 million to 348 beneficiaries, including Sh3 million each to the families of 115 people who died during the demonstrations. Civil society groups had planned memorials and vigils nationwide, even as security agencies stayed on high alert for large crowds.