Roads blocked in Kenya’s capital on anniversary of pro-democracy protests

Event comes arsenic young Kenyans, frustrated implicit economy, corruption and constabulary brutality, are taking to the streets.

Kenya is marking its day of pro-democracy rallies, with constabulary blocking main roads successful the capital, Nairobi, anticipating protests, aft past month’s demonstrations descended into violent clashes.

People rally each twelvemonth connected July 7 to people the day successful 1990 erstwhile Kenyans demanded a instrumentality to multiparty ideology aft years of autocratic regularisation by then-President Daniel arap Moi.

The protestation is called “Saba Saba”, meaning “seven seven” successful Kiswahili, due to the fact that of the date.

Kenya antiriot constabulary defender parliament buildings successful Nairobi, Kenya, July 7, 2025 [Brian Inganga/AP Photo]

Monday’s lawsuit comes arsenic young Kenyans – aggravated implicit economical stagnation, corruption and repeated acts of constabulary brutality – are erstwhile again engaging successful protests that besides saw looting and violence, leaving dozens dormant and thousands of businesses destroyed.

Protesters impeach the authorities of paying equipped vandals to discredit their movement, portion the authorities has compared the demonstrations with an “attempted coup”.

On Monday, the streets of Nairobi were eerily quiescent aft constabulary mounted roadblocks connected the main roads, preventing astir radical from entering the centre, with galore businesses closed for the day.

The authorities is committed to protecting beingness and spot during protests, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said connected his X relationship connected Sunday.

“Our information agencies are connected precocious alert to woody decisively with criminals and different elements of sick intent who whitethorn question to infiltrate peaceful processions to origin havoc, mayhem, oregon demolition of property,” helium said.

Leading activistic Hanifa Aden wrote connected X: “The constabulary getting rained connected arsenic they artifact each roadworthy portion we enactment astatine location warming our beds.”

“Total shutdown and forced vacation executed by the state,” she added.

On Sunday afternoon, a quality league by the Kenyan Human Rights Commission calling for an extremity to “enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings” was breached up erstwhile men, immoderate equipped with sticks, forced their mode into the compound.

Social media and rising economical expectations person created choler astatine inequalities successful a state wherever astir 80 percent are trapped successful informal, poorly paid jobs.

The decease of Albert Ojwang, a teacher and blogger, successful constabulary custody successful June gave impetus to protests, with the government-funded Kenya National Commission connected Human Rights reporting 19 deaths crossed the state during demonstrations past month.

Prosecutors approved execution charges against six people, including 3 constabulary officers, implicit Ojwang’s death. All six pleaded not guilty.

At slightest 80 radical person died successful protests since June 2024 and dozens detained illegally.

Politically, President William Ruto – elected successful 2022 – inactive holds a beardown position, having forged an confederation with the main absorption leader, Raila Odinga, leaving nary wide challenger up of the adjacent ballot successful 2027.