Police Arrest Saba Saba Protesters Outside Office of the President as Security Tightens Across Nairobi
Plainclothes police officers arrested a group of activists on Tuesday after they attempted to stage a Saba Saba protest outside the Office of the President along Harambee Avenue in Nairobi, in one of the day’s most dramatic confrontations between demonstrators and security agencies.
The activists had gathered outside the heavily guarded government offices, located along Harambee Avenue in Nairobi’s Central Business District, before officers swiftly moved in to disperse the group and bundle several protesters into waiting vehicles.
Witnesses said the operation lasted only a few minutes as security personnel prevented the demonstrators from gaining access to the area surrounding the Office of the President, which had been placed under heightened security amid nationwide Saba Saba commemorations.
By Tuesday afternoon, the whereabouts of those arrested had not been officially confirmed. However, local reports indicated they were likely being held at Nairobi’s Central Police Station pending further police action.
The arrests have renewed scrutiny over the conduct of law enforcement officers during public demonstrations, coming just days after court directives emphasized that officers deployed to manage protests should remain in official police uniform and be clearly identifiable while carrying out their duties.
Tuesday’s operation unfolded against the backdrop of an unprecedented security deployment across Nairobi, where police mounted roadblocks, intensified patrols and guarded key government installations to prevent demonstrations from spreading into sensitive areas.
Earlier in the morning, thousands of commuters were left stranded after security officers established checkpoints along major routes leading into the capital, including sections of Thika Road.
Motorists and passengers encountered lengthy delays at Kimbo, Kihunguro and the Eastern Bypass junction as police subjected vehicles to security inspections and restricted many public service vehicles from entering the Central Business District.
The transport disruption forced many Nairobi residents to walk long distances to their workplaces, while businesses in parts of the city reported reduced customer traffic amid uncertainty over the demonstrations.
Despite the heightened tensions in the capital, reports from other parts of the country suggested a relatively calm atmosphere, with normal business activities continuing in several towns, including Kisumu.
The latest arrests underscore the tense atmosphere surrounding this year’s Saba Saba commemorations, which have been characterized by heavy police deployment, transport disruptions and attempts by activists to stage demonstrations at strategic locations across the country.
Neither the National Police Service nor the organizers of the protest had issued an immediate statement regarding the arrests by the time of publication.
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