Eldoret city witnessed a tense calm on Monday morning as businesses remained closed and heavy police deployments were observed ahead of the anticipated Saba Saba protests. The heightened security comes in the wake of recent Gen Z-led demonstrations that rocked the town and other parts of the country, prompting law enforcement to take pre-emptive action.
Uasin Gishu County police commander Benjamin Mwanthi confirmed that security teams had been strategically deployed in areas that previously experienced violent protests, including Huruma, Kipkaren, Kamkunji, and Maili Nne estates. Mwanthi assured residents that the police were on high alert and ready to act swiftly should unrest arise.
“We urge everyone to keep peace so that daily activities can go on,” Mwanthi stated, adding that the goal was to protect life and property while enabling normalcy in the region.
Despite the reassurances, many business owners opted to keep their premises shut, particularly within Eldoret’s Central Business District (CBD). Paul Kiptoo, who runs a mobile phone shop, said traders were adopting a wait-and-see approach, citing fears of looting or destruction similar to previous protests.
“We hope the situation will remain calm and that there will be no destructive protests like last time,” said Kiptoo, who stationed guards at his shuttered shop.
The fear of violence also spilled into the education sector, with some schools in Eldoret failing to reopen for Monday classes. Parents, concerned for their children’s safety, chose to keep them at home until the situation stabilized.
Sources indicate that additional police units from neighboring regions have been brought into Eldoret to bolster local security. Patrols by both uniformed and plainclothes officers were visible in major estates and around sensitive infrastructure.
The Saba Saba demonstrations, historically associated with Kenya’s push for multiparty democracy, have taken on new meaning in recent years. This year, the Gen Z movement, which has been vocal about economic and governance issues, is expected to lead renewed calls for change.
As the day unfolds, all eyes remain on Eldoret, where the balance between maintaining public order and safeguarding the constitutional right to protest will be keenly tested.
