Wamuzi News Ke
In a dramatic sweep early Monday, law enforcement officers swooped on motorists and boda boda operators attempting to enter Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), accusing them of clandestine movements aimed at subverting a sweeping security blockade ahead of the planned Saba Saba protests.
Leading the operation, police set up tight roadblocks at key entry points into the CBD. On Waiyaki Way near Kangemi Bridge, vehicles were forcibly turned around, preventing commuters from accessing the city center. Meanwhile, at the bustling Globe Roundabout, dozens of boda boda riders were apprehended on suspicion of smuggling unsuspecting passengers past the barricades.
One viral video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) shows uniformed officers halting motorcycles and searching riders. A police official was heard warning: “Anyone sneaking people into prohibited zones will be arrested and their bikes impounded.”
A Tense Prelude to Saba Saba
This crackdown comes just hours before the anticipated Saba Saba Day protests, which have already prompted sweeping restrictions across major urban routes. Authorities have foreshadowed a zero-tolerance approach to any disruptive movement on Monday.
The police campaign has raised tensions among commuters and human rights advocates, many of whom view the sweeping measures as a direct assault on freedom of movement and assembly. Scores of citizens have voiced frustration at being prevented from reaching their workplaces, while critics claim the clampdown smacks of intimidation tactics aimed at deterring protest participation.
Public Backlash and Civil Rights Concerns
Despite official assurances that only suspicious movements are targeted, this operation has drawn sharp criticism for its scope and harsh impact on daily livelihood. “We’re not protestors,” complained one boda boda operator caught at Globe Roundabout. “We just need to earn.”
Human rights groups are already mobilizing legal experts to monitor the unfolding situation, warning that innocent civilians could be caught in the dragnet. They argue the right to movement and assembly is protected under Kenya’s Constitution and that blanket restrictions may amount to abuse of power.
What’s Next?
With the Saba Saba protests scheduled to proceed this afternoon, law enforcement remains on high alert. More officers, backed by mounted units, have been deployed across Uhuru Highway, Parklands Roundabout, Ngong Road, Thika Road, and Westlands—wherebarbed-wire barricades and razor fencing have been erected.
As the clock ticks towards the protests, the nation is bracing for a confrontation between civic discontent and government control. Activists and commuters alike continue to watch the CBD—normally a hive of activity—now eerily silent under the heavy presence of police cordons and impounded motorcycles.
