Two die for Kenya as protesters close down central Nairobi

BBC News

07-07-2025

Two pipo don die of gunshot wounds afta police open fire during protests for Kenya, di latest in di wave of anti-government rallies wey start last year.
Dr Aron Sikuku, one medic for Eagle Nursing Home for Kangemi on di outskirts of Nairobi, tell di BBC say dem don carry di two bodies to di facility and e die from gunshot wounds. E tok say hundreds of protesters don gada outside di hospital as dem dey demand to take away di bodies.
As of now, no official confirmation of di deaths.
Di demonstrations mark di 35th anniversary of di historic Saba Saba (7 July 1990) protests wey launch Kenya push for multiparty democracy.
From early morning, security forces don block all major roads into central Nairobi ahead of di protests. No body dey di city centre, as businesses shut down and heavy police presence dey on di streets.
Fights bin break out in oda places for Nairobi, as demonstrators light fires and attempt to attack police officers. Officers respond wit tear gas and water cannon.
Di police fire tear gas to scata pipo on Thika Road, as well as in Kitengela, one town on di outskirts of di capital. For Kamukunji, near di venue wia di original Saba Saba protests hold, police battle groups of protesters wey light fires on di streets.
Di rest of di kontri dey quiet, although dem report some clashes.
Earlier, hundreds of early-morning commuters and overnight travellers dey stranded at checkpoints, some more dan 10km (six miles) from di city centre, na only few vehicles dem allow make e pass.
Within di city, roads wey dey lead to key goment sites - including di president official residence, State House, and di Kenyan parliament - dem barricade am wit razor wire.
Some schools advise students make dem stay at home.
By mid-morning on Monday, hundreds of overnight passengers remain stranded outside di city centre, as major roads still dey closed.
Dem park some long-distance buses in Kabete, about 13km from di city centre, wit many passengers wey no fit afford to pay extra money for motorcycle rides to dia destinations as dem remain dia.
Humphrey Gumbishi, one bus driver, tok say im start im journey on Sunday evening dem im discover say police don block road in di morning.
"We begin travel around 8:30pm last night... We want di goment make dem tok to di Gen Zs so all dis fit come to an end," e tell di BBC
Inside one statement wey police issue on Sunday evening, di police tok say dia constitutional duty na to protect lives and property while maintaining public order.
Monday demonstrations wey Gen-Z young pipo organize, dey demand for good governance, greater accountability, and justice for victims of police brutality, continuing di wave of anti-government protests since last year.
On 25 June, at least 19 pipo die and dem loot thousands of businesses and destroy houses for one nationwide protests wey hold in honour of pipo wey die in last year anti-tax protests.
Recent demonstrations don turn violent, wit reports of infiltration by "goons", wey dem dey accuse of looting and attacking protesters. Civil society groups don allege say di fight betwin dis groups and di police - accusations say di police don strongly denied.
On Sunday, one armed gang attack di headquarters of one human rights NGO in Nairobi. Di Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) don dey host press conference organise by women wey dey call for an end to state violence ahead of Monday protests.
Di KHRC tok-tok pesin, Ernest Cornel, tok say di gang make up for at least 25 pipo wey dey shout ontop motorbikes: "Protest no go dey today".
"Dem carry stones, dem carry clubs… laptops, phone and oda valuable wey dem steal from protesters and journalists wey dey dia" e tell di BBC Newsday programme.
Di original Saba Saba protests na key moment wey start multiparty system in Kenya democracy afta years of one-party rule.
Di response by di then goment under President Daniel arap Moi dey brutal. Dem arrest many protesters, while at least 20 pipo die.
Since den, Saba Saba don symbolise as civic resistance and di fight for democratic freedom for Kenya.