Kenya Locks Down Ahead of Saba Saba Protests, Creating Tension in Nairobi

As Kenya commemorates Saba Saba with demonstrations against police brutality and bad government, major routes in Nairobi have been closed.

Security police closed main highways leading into Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, on Monday, putting the city under a tense lockdown ahead of scheduled statewide protests honoring Saba Saba, the historic July 7 movement for multiparty democracy.

A large portion of the city center was empty during the early hours of the morning. Schools urged kids to stay at home, businesses were closed, and heavily armed police officers patrolled strategic crossroads. Hundreds of travelers and commuters were stuck at checkpoints, some of which were more than ten kilometers from the city center and had very limited access.

Roads near important government buildings, such as the State House and Parliament, were cordoned off with razor wire as security precautions stepped up. The increased presence, according to authorities, is intended to preserve public order while preserving life and property.

The police reiterated their constitutional duty to maintain security in the face of the escalating disturbance in a statement issued Sunday night.

Known as Saba Saba (Swahili for “seven-seven”), the July 7 protests commemorate the 35th anniversary of the 1990 rallies against one-party rule under then-President Daniel arap Moi. The brutal response that followed the initial protests is said to have killed at least 20 people and resulted in the detention of several others. Since then, Saba Saba has come to represent civic resistance and Kenya’s continuous struggle for democratic freedom.

Young people and civil society organizations had a major role in organizing this year’s rallies, which are demanding better government, increased accountability, and justice for victims of police violence. They follow a larger wave of anti-government demonstrations that started last year due to issues with taxes and living expenses.

The protests come after a violent incident on June 25, when thousands of shops were destroyed and at least 19 people were killed amid nationwide marches honoring those who perished in the upheaval the previous year. Authorities and protestors are still at odds over what caused the violence, with many pointing to criminal groups, sometimes known as “goons,” who join protests in order to steal and cause mayhem. Police have strongly refuted accusations from civil society organizations that they colluded with these elements.

After an armed gang broke into the Kenya Human Rights Commission’s Nairobi offices on Sunday and interrupted a press conference by female activists demanding an end to state-sponsored violence, emotions increased even more.

As Kenya commemorates the 35th anniversary of the Saba Saba movement, the country is once again facing the same problems that led to the demonstrations decades ago: accountability, repression, and the right of citizens to peacefully call for change.