A man was fatally shot in Kangemi on Sunday, July 7, amid chaotic Saba Saba Day protests that have rocked several towns across Kenya. The victim, whose identity remains unknown, was gunned down along Waiyaki Way near the Kangemi bridge. Eyewitnesses reported that moments after the shooting, crowds surged toward the scene, surrounding the man’s lifeless body as anger and grief escalated.
Protesters, many of them youth, engaged police in running battles, hurling stones and chanting in defiance. The clash prompted police to barricade parts of Waiyaki Way to block vehicle access into Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), escalating the traffic disruption and heightening tensions.
Saba Saba Day, historically a day of pro-democracy remembrance, has this year been marked by increased unrest as citizens demand accountability and government reforms. In Nairobi, the usually bustling CBD had come to a standstill by 1 PM. Shops remained shut, and both pedestrian and vehicular movement was minimal as police locked down key streets.
Tensions were not confined to Nairobi. In Kitengela and Githurai, violent confrontations between demonstrators and police were reported throughout the morning. Teargas was deployed in Ngara, while in Mombasa, authorities prevented protesters from holding planned demonstrations by heavily deploying security forces in the city center.
At around 2 PM, a group of boda boda riders was arrested at Globe Roundabout. Police claimed they were trying to sneak protesters into the CBD, further intensifying confrontations.
The rising violence and loss of life have alarmed human rights groups and civil society actors, who have called for restraint from both the public and law enforcement. Residents across affected areas have been urged to remain indoors and avoid confrontation-prone zones for their safety.
As Kenya grapples with the implications of these nationwide protests, the call for justice, transparency, and dialogue continues to grow louder. The government is yet to issue an official statement on the Kangemi shooting, and investigations into the incident are expected.
