Kenyans living in the Nairobi Metropolitan area might not be able to access the Nairobi Central Business District, or surrounding areas ahead of the Saba Saba protests.
As of 6 am Monday, the capital seemed inaccessible for many residents, workers, and businesspeople either heading to town or various destinations through the CBD.
Citizen Digital observed a heavy police presence at various points, including the Nyayo Stadium junction, Pangani, the Kenyatta Hospital roundabout, and roads leading to State House.
In the police barricades, Thika Road was blocked at Pangani, Mombasa Road was blocked at Nyayo Stadium and Ngong Road was blocked at the City Mortuary.
Several people heading to various destinations for work and other activities reported being turned away as early as 5 am.
The developments follow a Sunday evening move, where police blocked hundreds of Nairobi-bound youth at the Dongo Kundu Bypass in Mombasa.
The youth from Nairobi who had attended the annual Summer Tides Festival in Diani were stopped near Likoni, as police reportedly stated they were heading to attend Saba Saba protests.
Later, the Kenya Railway would report the cancellation of the midnight train that leaves Mombasa at 10 pm for Nairobi.
Hundreds of passengers were left stranded after short notice, when Kenya Railways announced that the train had “developed a technical fault”.
On the other hand, Kenyans planning to attend the Saba Saba protests began to receive warnings from notable persons on Sunday.
One Moses Kuria, an economic advisor to President William Ruto, in a tweet in the wee hours of Monday morning, warned that those who turn up to destroy property during protests would ‘make his Kachumbari and stew’.
Saba Saba is remembered as the day when nationwide protests took place on July 7, 1990, Kenyans took to the streets to demand free elections and the approval of multiparty democracy in Kenya.
Yearly, peaceful protests are held on 7th July to mark the historic date when Kenya’s constitution was challenged, allowing the formation of other political parties.
On Sunday, former Opposition leader Raila Odinga, one of the young turks who took part in the 1990 Saba Saba day, announced that he would hold a rally at the Kamukunji grounds.
Source: RMS
Additional reporting indicates that by 9:30 am police had barricaded the following roads leading to and from the CBD.
1.Guru Nanak towards town (Thika Road block)
2.Roysambu footbridge
3.Ngong Road at City Mortuary
4.Arwings Kodhek/DoD roundabout
5.Kangemi overpass
6.Bunyala roundabout
7.Madaraka roundabout
8.Roysambu roundabout towards town – totally closed
9.Kiambu Road closed at DCI
10.Gitaru interchange – closed
11.Valley Road
12.Kasarani exit
13.Nyayo Stadium
14.Landhies Road
15.Kenyatta Avenue
16.Uhuru Highway
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