Major traffic disruptions have paralyzed Nairobi this Monday morning as police erected numerous roadblocks on key city routes ahead of the planned Saba Saba demonstrations. The heightened security operation has significantly affected the flow of both private and public transport, leaving thousands of commuters stranded and forced to seek alternative routes or walk to their destinations.
Vehicles were turned away at various points, with only government vehicles and those attending to emergencies allowed to pass. The police operation appears to be a preventive measure amid growing fears of unrest and possible clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officers.
Among the heavily affected areas are:
- Mombasa Road near Sameer Business Park
- Lang’ata Road next to 1824 in Madaraka
- Kiambu Road near the CID Headquarters
- Madaraka Roundabout towards Nyayo Stadium
- Donholm
- Roysambu Roundabout
- Spring Valley Road
- Limuru Road near UN Avenue
- Ngong Road
In addition to the above, security checks and roadblocks were also reported on:
- Waiyaki Way
- Kenyatta Avenue
- Jogoo Road
- Thika Road
- Uhuru Highway
- Valley Road
- Various key feeder roads around the city
Commuters reported long delays and confusion, with many forced to abandon matatus and resort to walking long distances. A hospitality worker shared that he had to walk from Westlands to the city centre after police blocked vehicles at Kangemi on Waiyaki Way. Buses and private cars returning to Nairobi from upcountry were also stopped, creating bottlenecks around Uthiru.
Elsewhere in Mombasa, roadblocks were mounted in Likoni, Nyali, and Changamwe as part of a coordinated national security operation. The move indicates broader concerns about the potential spread of protests beyond Nairobi.
Learning institutions across various towns, including Nairobi, issued advisories asking students to stay at home and resume classes on Tuesday. This precaution follows incidents during past demonstrations where schools and businesses were caught in the chaos of street clashes, with some experiencing vandalism or looting.
Businesses in the central business district were seen over the weekend reinforcing their premises with metal grills in anticipation of possible unrest. Security presence has been visibly increased, with officers under strict instructions to limit vehicle access while allowing pedestrian movement.
As the Saba Saba protests unfold, city residents are bracing for a day of inconvenience, uncertainty, and potential confrontation. The demonstrations, rooted in calls against police brutality and extrajudicial killings, have become a recurring flashpoint in Kenya’s political calendar.
