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The Kenyan government has placed Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) under heavy security ahead of the much-anticipated Gen Z-led protests scheduled for June 25, 2025. The demonstrations, organized in remembrance of the young lives lost during last year’s anti-Finance Bill protests, have stirred nationwide emotions and forced the State to respond with stringent preventative measures.
Early Wednesday morning, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen convened a high-level security meeting with senior police commanders, signaling the government’s serious posture toward maintaining law and order throughout the day. The meeting, held at 5:00 AM, reportedly finalized the deployment strategy, coordinated intelligence surveillance, and authorized preemptive lockdowns of targeted routes.
By dawn, major arteries into the CBD had been blocked. Key roads such as Kenyatta Avenue, Moi Avenue, and Harambee Avenue—normally bustling with midweek activity—were heavily barricaded. The perimeters surrounding Parliament Road and the Office of the President were fortified with steel barriers and armed officers in full anti-riot gear. Security forces were also deployed to Mombasa Road, Waiyaki Way, Thika Superhighway, and Jogoo Road to monitor traffic flow and search for potential infiltrators.
In what has become a new normal during high-tension civic demonstrations, police conducted random inspections on public service vehicles (PSVs), boarding buses to frisk passengers and check identification. Observers noted a significantly diminished business presence in downtown Nairobi, with shops shuttered and foot traffic sparse as residents avoided potential hotspots.
Despite the visible tension, Gen Z protest organizers have been emphatic about the peaceful nature of the day’s events. According to their released statements, the protest's key agenda includes:
-Laying flowers at Parliament in memory of victims,
-Delivering signed letters and petitions to the Office of the President and Members of Parliament,
-Marching silently along Mama Ngina Street, Moi Avenue, and Harambee Avenue.
Protesters have called on fellow demonstrators to carry white handkerchiefs, flowers, and placards bearing the names of those who died during the 2024 protests. Organizers also instructed all participants to wear black as a sign of mourning and solidarity.
The government’s reaction has been shaped by the violent turn taken during last week’s march honoring Albert Ojwang, a young protester who died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody. That event saw the eruption of chaos in parts of Nairobi and Kisumu, prompting the government to heighten preparedness in the current protest cycle.
Adding to the tension are fears of infiltration. Civil society groups and opposition leaders have warned that plain-clothed goons—allegedly deployed by elements within the government—may be inserted into the protest to provoke violence and discredit the movement. Reports from informal settlements like Kibera and Mathare suggest that groups of young men were transported into Nairobi’s CBD late Tuesday night, although their identities and affiliations remain unverified.
In a show of community coordination, several volunteer medical teams, legal observers, and clergy-based counseling units have stationed themselves along protest routes. These teams aim to provide first aid, document human rights violations, and de-escalate confrontations between police and protesters where possible.
Meanwhile, legal observers affiliated with various civic organizations have fanned out across the CBD to ensure accountability in the event of arbitrary arrests or police brutality. Human rights watchdogs have warned authorities against excessive use of force and emphasized that peaceful assembly is a constitutional right under Article 37.
While the protesters march for justice and remembrance, the nation remains on edge. Social media channels are flooded with real-time footage, instructions, and safety tips, showing both the power and volatility of digital mobilization. Counter-narratives, misinformation, and official warnings also crowd the information space, making it difficult to discern truth from propaganda in real time.
For now, all eyes remain fixed on Nairobi and other cities across Kenya where similar commemorative demonstrations are taking place. As the day unfolds, the actions of both the State and the citizens will define not just the fate of today’s protest, but also the future of civil resistance in Kenya.
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