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Observer
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Nairobi tense as police block protesters
NAIROBI: Police blocked roads and heavily deployed in the deserted streets of Kenya's usually bustling capital on Monday to prevent gatherings to mark annual pro-democracy rallies after recent demonstrations descended into violent clashes. Many people appeared to be staying home rather than attend the so-called Saba Saba Day (meaning Seven Seven) marches to commemorate on July 7, 1990, when Kenyans rose up to demand a return to multi-party democracy after years of autocratic rule by then-president Daniel arap Moi. Around midday, journalists saw running battles with a group of anti-riot police who fired teargas at a small gathering of around 50 young men, with some of the crowd throwing rocks at officers. Young Kenyans, frustrated over economic stagnation, corruption and police brutality, are once again engaging in protests that have degenerated into looting and violence, leaving dozens dead and thousands of businesses destroyed. Protesters accuse the authorities of paying armed vandals to discredit their movement, while the government has compared the demonstrations to an "attempted coup". On Monday, the streets of central Nairobi were quiet after police mounted roadblocks on the main roads, restricting entry to areas that were the epicentre of previous rallies. Many businesses were closed for the day. On Sunday, men, some armed with sticks, forced their way into the compound of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission during a press conference calling for an end to "enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings". The previous demonstration on June 25 — intended to mark the peak of last year's deadly anti-government rallies — turned violent and left 19 people dead, according to rights groups. Police made hundreds of arrests. — AFP
eNCA
07-07-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Clashes on Nairobi outskirts as police block marchers
Police blocked roads in a show of force to deter anti-government marchers from the deserted streets of Kenya's usually bustling capital on Monday, with small groups of protesters clashing with officers on Nairobi's outskirts. Many people appeared to be staying home rather than attend the annual so-called Saba Saba Day, meaning Seven Seven, marches to commemorate July 7, 1990 when Kenyans rose up to demand a return to multi-party democracy after years of autocratic rule by then-president Daniel arap Moi. From around midday, AFP saw running battles with groups of anti-riot police who fired teargas at small gatherings, with some of the crowd throwing rocks at officers and engaging in destructive looting. Young Kenyans, frustrated over economic stagnation, corruption and police brutality, are once again engaging in protests that last month degenerated into looting and violence, leaving dozens dead and thousands of businesses destroyed. Protesters accuse the authorities of paying armed vandals to discredit their movement, while the government has compared the demonstrations to an "attempted coup". On Monday, the streets of central Nairobi were quiet after police mounted roadblocks on the main roads, restricting entry to areas that were the epicentre of previous rallies. Many businesses were closed for the day. "I have never witnessed the city centre like this," security guard Edmond Khayimba, 29, told AFP. While the centre remained deserted, groups gathered on the outskirts in the afternoon with AFP reporters witnessing two people wounded, as well as looting and vandalism. Protesters on a major highway clashed with police blocking their entry into the city, with the small crowds chanting: "Ruto Must Go", a popular rallying cry against President William Ruto, and "wantam" meaning "one term". Again, AFP saw looting and property destruction in the surrounding area. With much of Nairobi at a standstill, an interactive map showing at least 20 suspected police roadblocks was shared online and through WhatsApp groups. Local TV stations also showed gatherings, some violent, in several towns across the country. - 'Ruto Must Go' - Social media and rising economic expectations have fanned anger over inequalities in a country where around 80 percent are trapped in informal, poorly paid jobs. AFP | Luis TATO But a crackdown by the police -- at least 80 people have died in protests since June last year while dozens have been detained illegally -- has scared many off the streets. On Sunday, men, some armed with sticks, forced their way into the compound of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission during a press conference calling for an end to "enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings". Nairobi motorbike driver Rogers Onsomu, 32, told AFP that while the town was deserted, he hoped demonstrators would come out later, and criticised Ruto's government. "What he has promised the country, (he) is not delivering," Onsomu said. "The youths are protesting because of many things, like healthcare." "As the constitution say, the power belongs to people," he said. "So this slogan of 'Ruto Must Go'. We will not relent and we will keep it going each and every day." - 'The world is different' - Since being elected in 2022, Ruto has forged an uneasy alliance with the main opposition leader Raila Odinga, leaving no clear challenger ahead of the next vote in 2027. But each violent crackdown fuels further unrest, said activist Nerima Wako. "Every time people organise a protest, they kill more people, so it just continues to feed off itself," she said. AFP | Eden EZRA Police made hundreds of arrests. Gabrielle Lynch, an African politics expert at Britain's University of Warwick, said the government appeared to be recycling tactics from the 1990s. "But we're not in the nineties," she said. "They don't seem to have realised the world is different."
Eyewitness News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Nairobi tense as Kenya marks democracy uprising
NAIROBI - Kenya marked its fight for democracy on Monday, with police blocking main roads in Nairobi ahead of potential protests, after last month's demonstrations descended into violent clashes. Saba Saba Day marks the uprising on 7 July 1990 when Kenyans demanded a return to multi-party democracy after years of autocratic rule by then-president Daniel arap Moi. This year's event comes as young Kenyans - frustrated over economic stagnation, corruption and repeated acts of police brutality - are once again engaging in protests that have degenerated into looting and violence, leaving dozens dead and thousands of businesses destroyed. Protesters accuse the authorities of paying armed vandals to discredit their movement, while the government has compared the demos to an "attempted coup". On Monday, the streets of Nairobi were eerily quiet after police mounted roadblocks on the main roads, preventing most people from entering the centre, with many businesses closed for the day. Leading activist Hanifa Aden wrote on X: "the police getting rained on as they block every road while we stay at home warming our beds." "Total shutdown and forced holiday executed by the state," she said. On Sunday afternoon, a press conference by the Kenyan Human Rights Commission calling for an end to "enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings" was broken up when men, some armed with sticks, forced their way into the compound. Social media and rising economic expectations have created anger at inequalities in a country where around 80% are trapped in informal, poorly paid jobs. But the violent response of the police, at least 80 people have died in protests since June 2024 and dozens detained illegally, has scared many off the streets. 'THE WORLD IS DIFFERENT' Politically, President William Ruto - elected in 2022 - still holds a strong position having forged an alliance with the main opposition leader Raila Odinga, leaving no clear challenger ahead of the next vote in 2027. But each violent crackdown is fuelling further unrest, said activist Nerima Wako. "Every time people organise a protest, they kill more people, so it just continues to feed off itself," she said. It is as though the government is recycling tactics from the 1990s, said Gabrielle Lynch, an African politics expert at Britain's University of Warwick. "But we're not in the nineties," she said. "They don't seem to have realised the world is different." "People don't have the same inbuilt fear of the state."
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Clashes on Nairobi outskirts as police block marchers
Nairobi: Police blocked roads in a show of force to deter anti-government marchers from the deserted streets of Kenya's usually bustling capital on Monday, with small groups of protesters clashing with officers on Nairobi's outskirts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Many people appeared to be staying home rather than attend the annual so-called Saba Saba Day, meaning Seven Seven, marches to commemorate July 7, 1990 when Kenyans rose up to demand a return to multi-party democracy after years of autocratic rule by then-president Daniel arap Moi. From around midday, AFP saw running battles with groups of anti-riot police who fired teargas at small gatherings, with some of the crowd throwing rocks at officers and engaging in destructive looting. Young Kenyans, frustrated over economic stagnation, corruption and police brutality, are once again engaging in protests that last month degenerated into looting and violence, leaving dozens dead and thousands of businesses destroyed. Protesters accuse the authorities of paying armed vandals to discredit their movement, while the government has compared the demonstrations to an "attempted coup". On Monday, the streets of central Nairobi were quiet after police mounted roadblocks on the main roads, restricting entry to areas that were the epicentre of previous rallies. Many businesses were closed for the day. "I have never witnessed the city centre like this," security guard Edmond Khayimba, 29, told AFP. While the centre remained deserted, groups gathered on the outskirts in the afternoon with AFP reporters witnessing two people wounded, as well as looting and vandalism. Protesters on a major highway clashed with police blocking their entry into the city, with the small crowds chanting: "Ruto Must Go", a popular rallying cry against President William Ruto, and "wantam" meaning "one term". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Again, AFP saw looting and property destruction in the surrounding area. With much of Nairobi at a standstill, an interactive map showing at least 20 suspected police roadblocks was shared online and through WhatsApp groups. Local TV stations also showed gatherings, some violent, in several towns across the country. - 'Ruto Must Go' - Social media and rising economic expectations have fanned anger over inequalities in a country where around 80 percent are trapped in informal, poorly paid jobs. But a crackdown by the police -- at least 80 people have died in protests since June last year while dozens have been detained illegally -- has scared many off the streets. On Sunday, men, some armed with sticks, forced their way into the compound of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission during a press conference calling for an end to "enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings". Nairobi motorbike driver Rogers Onsomu, 32, told AFP that while the town was deserted, he hoped demonstrators would come out later, and criticised Ruto's government. "What he has promised the country, (he) is not delivering," Onsomu said. "The youths are protesting because of many things, like healthcare." "As the constitution say, the power belongs to people," he said. "So this slogan of 'Ruto Must Go'. We will not relent and we will keep it going each and every day." - 'The world is different' - Since being elected in 2022, Ruto has forged an uneasy alliance with the main opposition leader Raila Odinga, leaving no clear challenger ahead of the next vote in 2027. But each violent crackdown fuels further unrest, said activist Nerima Wako. "Every time people organise a protest, they kill more people, so it just continues to feed off itself," she said. The previous demonstration on June 25 -- intended to mark the peak of last year's deadly anti-government rallies -- turned violent and left 19 people dead, according to rights groups. Police made hundreds of arrests. Gabrielle Lynch, an African politics expert at Britain's University of Warwick, said the government appeared to be recycling tactics from the 1990s. "But we're not in the nineties," she said. "They don't seem to have realised the world is different."
Arab News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Nairobi tense as Kenya marks democracy uprising
NAIROBI: Kenya marked its fight for democracy on Monday, with police blocking main roads in Nairobi ahead of potential protests, after last month's demonstrations descended into violent clashes. Saba Saba Day marks the uprising on July 7, 1990 when Kenyans demanded a return to multi-party democracy after years of autocratic rule by then-president Daniel arap Moi. This year's event comes as young Kenyans — frustrated over economic stagnation, corruption and repeated acts of police brutality — are once again engaging in protests that have degenerated into looting and violence, leaving dozens dead and thousands of businesses destroyed. Protesters accuse the authorities of paying armed vandals to discredit their movement, while the government has compared the demos to an 'attempted coup.' On Monday, the streets of Nairobi were eerily quiet after police mounted roadblocks on the main roads, preventing most people from entering the center, with many businesses closed for the day. Leading activist Hanifa Aden wrote on X: 'the police getting rained on as they block every road while we stay at home warming our beds.' 'Total shutdown and forced holiday executed by the state,' she said. On Sunday afternoon, a press conference by the Kenyan Human Rights Commission calling for an end to 'enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings' was broken up when men, some armed with sticks, forced their way into the compound. Social media and rising economic expectations have created anger at inequalities in a country where around 80 percent are trapped in informal, poorly paid jobs. But the violent response of the police — at least 80 people have died in protests since June 2024 and dozens detained illegally — has scared many off the streets. Politically, President William Ruto — elected in 2022 — still holds a strong position having forged an alliance with the main opposition leader Raila Odinga, leaving no clear challenger ahead of the next vote in 2027. But each violent crackdown is fueling further unrest, said activist Nerima Wako. 'Every time people organize a protest, they kill more people, so it just continues to feed off itself,' she said. It is as though the government is recycling tactics from the 1990s, said Gabrielle Lynch, an African politics expert at Britain's University of Warwick. 'But we're not in the nineties,' she said. 'They don't seem to have realized the world is different.' 'People don't have the same inbuilt fear of the state.'
