Nairobi Roads Locked Down Ahead of Gen‑Z Protest Anniversary

Police in Kenya have sealed off key roads leading into central Nairobi ahead of planned nationwide protests marking two years since the deadly Gen‑Z‑led anti‑government demonstrations.

In June 2024 thousands of Kenyans protested against proposed tax hikes. The demonstrations culminated in the storming of parliament, after which the controversial finance bill was withdrawn, yet the violence left over 80 people dead and dozens injured.

This year’s protests are largely organised via social media and are expected to hit major towns including Nairobi, Mombasa and parts of central Kenya. Security agencies have heightened surveillance and police are holding a heavy presence in Nairobi and strategic installations.

Footage from local TV stations shows flames and smoke in the Githurai area, where protesters lit fires during clashes with police. Riot police fired tear gas to disperse crowds, and several people are now in police custody.

Families of victims have demanded a peaceful commemoration of those who died. “We don’t want tear gas and running battles in the streets. We are too old for that,” one parent said to journalists in Nairobi.

Opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa joined the families to lay wreaths at Parliament in honour of the casualties.

Police installed roadblocks along the Thika Super Highway, Mombasa Road, the Nairobi‑Namanga Highway in Athi River, Kenyatta Avenue, Waiyaki Way, Jogoo Road and other main routes, effectively preventing motorists and pedestrians from reaching the city centre.

President William Ruto said people have a right to protest, but condemned anyone “mobilised to destroy property or cause chaos.” Ruto has also announced a $15m fund to compensate nearly 2,000 victims of protest‑related abuses between 2017 and 2025, though human‑rights groups reject the plan as opaque and insufficient.

The crackdown and compensation offer come as Ruto faces growing discontent ahead of the 2027 elections. Critics accuse his government of failing to deliver on campaign promises, while Ruto denies these claims and vows to defend his record.

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Read original article at BBC News.