NAIROBI, KENYA — The Kenyan capital woke up to a massive security lockdown on Thursday as heavily armed anti-riot police and other security personnel cordoned off Parliament Buildings and key government installations. The heavy deployments come as the nation braces for planned memorial protests marking the second anniversary of the historic June 25, 2024, Gen Z-led anti-finance bill demonstrations.
According to field reports, Parliament Road has been heavily fortified. Security forces have erected imposing barbed wire barricades, significantly restricting access routes into various parts of Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) to prevent crowds from gathering near state infrastructure.
The sweeping security measures have triggered severe logistical and traffic disruptions across the city. Police roadblocks have been mounted on several major thoroughfares, strictly barring public service vehicles (PSVs) from entering the city center. Consequently, thousands of morning commuters were forced to walk long distances to reach their destinations. Meanwhile, numerous businesses in the CBD opted to keep their doors closed, bracing for potential unrest.
Kenyan authorities have defended the aggressive lockdown, stating that the stringent measures are strictly precautionary. The primary objective, security officials noted, is to protect critical government installations and maintain public order amid concerns that the commemorative gatherings could escalate.
The tense atmosphere serves as a stark reminder of the events that unfolded exactly two years ago today. On June 25, 2024, thousands of young demonstrators—largely mobilized via social media—breached the tightly guarded Parliament grounds in an unprecedented show of defiance against a controversial finance bill that sought to introduce punitive tax hikes.
The ensuing clashes between protesters and security forces resulted in tragic deaths, hundreds of injuries, and sent shockwaves through the country’s political landscape, ultimately forcing major government concessions.
As the anniversary day progresses, the nation watches closely to see whether the planned memorials will proceed peacefully or if the tension in the capital will once again boil over.
