Wamuzi News Ke
In a sweeping show of force, the Kenyan government turned its security apparatus into an impenetrable barrier today, sealing off Nairobi’s CBD with razor wire, spike strips, boulders, and mounted police in anticipation of Saba Saba protests.
Critics say the operation revealed a “scared” administration wielding brute force to silence dissent .
Entire City Blocked, Movement Denied.
By dawn, the usual hum of Nairobi traffic had vanished. Barricades, crime scene tape, and KDF armoured squads sealed off Thika Road, Ngong Road, Waiyaki Way, Mombasa Road and other key arteries .
Motorists, matatus, boda boda riders, pedestrians—and even ambulances—were turned away, often without explanation, as “no one gets in” became the unspoken directive .
Covert and Overt Tactics Unleashed.
Law enforcement deployed a dual approach: overt deployments of riot police on horseback backed by covert undercover squads in unmarked vehicles. Eyewitnesses described plainclothes units filming civilians and stopping passersby in civilian cars .
At major roundabouts like City Hall and Globe, riders were arrested en masse and law enforcement units worked to choke off movement from all directions.A National Lockdown?
The clampdown extended far beyond Nairobi. Police intercepted buses in Mombasa’s Dongo Kundu as protesters attempted to travel to the capital from the coast . Trains were cancelled, checkpoints sporadically set up along highways, and bonfires lit by frustrated citizens unable to reach their destinations.
Reports indicate some hospitals and schools were effectively inaccessible due to the lockdown.
A Government on Edge.
Policy analysts and civil society groups argue that today’s security posture is being driven by fear, not strategy. “This was a government that is clearly terrified of its own people,” said a human rights lawyer. “They’ve turned Nairobi into a military zone to suffocate dissent”—echoing the sentiments published earlier in The Standard’s “Brute force for a scared government” commentary .
Public Outcry and Freedom Under Threat.
As drizzly rain fell over the ghost towns that Nairobi became today, residents voiced defiance. “They can stop us physically,” said an Eastlands protester, “but they can’t kill the idea of Saba Saba.”
Meanwhile, human rights activists warn that denying citizens access to the city, especially essential workers and ambulances, breaches constitutional rights to movement and assembly.
What Happens Next.
Independent Reviews: Lawyers and human rights groups are preparing to challenge the security measures in court.Medical Access: With reports of blocked ambulances, the emergency response chain may be scrutinized.
Saba Saba Mobilisation: Activists and protest organisers are assessing whether to go ahead under heavy security, reroute actions, or delay.
