A man was shot dead along Waiyaki Way in Kangemi as Saba Saba Day protests escalated across parts of Kenya. The incident occurred during mid-afternoon chaos that saw demonstrators clash with police officers in several urban centres.
Eyewitnesses reported that the man fell to the ground after a loud crack, suspected to be a gunshot, was heard near the Kangemi bridge. He lay motionless as a crowd quickly gathered around him, shouting and charging in anger. Tensions spiked immediately, with protesters pelting police officers with stones in retaliation.
The identity of the deceased had not been confirmed by press time. However, the scene quickly turned volatile, forcing police to respond with force in an attempt to disperse the angry mob. Teargas canisters were fired, and Waiyaki Way was swiftly barricaded to block both pedestrian and vehicular movement into Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).
Across Nairobi, the impact of the protests was profound. By 1 PM, the CBD had ground to a near-complete halt. Most shops had shut their doors, and normally busy roads remained eerily empty. Police had earlier blocked off major entry points into the city in anticipation of the demonstrations, which were expected to draw large numbers of protesters.
In Kangemi, running battles between demonstrators and security forces continued well into the afternoon. Protesters, mostly youth, used burning debris and stones to obstruct traffic and engage police in confrontations. Security personnel responded with heavy teargas and arrests, particularly targeting groups perceived to be instigating unrest.
Elsewhere in the country, similar scenes played out. In Kitengela and Githurai, sporadic clashes were reported, with demonstrators defying police orders to disperse. In Ngara, officers were seen firing teargas earlier in the day to break up gatherings that had begun forming before noon.
At the Globe Roundabout in Nairobi, a group of boda boda operators was intercepted minutes before 2 PM. Authorities claimed they were attempting to ferry demonstrators into the restricted city centre. The riders and their motorcycles were rounded up and detained for further questioning.
The day’s events marked a significant moment in the ongoing political discourse around governance and public accountability. Saba Saba Day, historically symbolic for pro-democracy movements in Kenya, drew thousands of participants to the streets in what was intended to be a national day of protest.
Security agencies have since issued warnings urging residents to avoid protest-prone areas, particularly in Nairobi, Kiambu, Mombasa, and other affected regions. With tensions still high, the situation remains fluid, and calls for calm have been echoed by civil society and religious leaders alike.
