Thursday, August 8, was a day of sharp contrasts in Kenya. While President William Ruto swore in 19 new Cabinet Secretaries at State House, Nairobi was gearing up for the Nane Nane Protests, which could be the largest demonstration in recent history.
For weeks, online posters have been calling for a massive march in Nairobi, with some predicting up to 5 million participants. To put that in perspective, it is five times the size of the June 25 protests, where Kenyans overpowered the police and breached Parliament, leading to many deaths.
The Nane Nane movement is inspired by the 2011 Tahrir Square protests in Egypt, which led to President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation. Kenyans are also looking to recent three-day protests in Bangladesh that resulted in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepping down.
By early morning, Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) was eerily quiet. Shops, including supermarkets and eateries, were closed, and the usually bustling streets were empty. The heavy police presence was noticeable with roadblocks set up on major roads like Waiyaki Way, Thika Road, and Jogoo Road, limiting access to the city.
Public transport was disrupted, and few vehicles ventured into the CBD. Along Ronald Ngala Street, most shops were shut, and security guards with wooden clubs patrolled the area.
At 8:15 a.m., Makadara MP George Aladwa urged the youth to reconsider their planned protests. “If the country is destroyed, we will all lose. Even those in leadership will not have anywhere to run,” he warned.
At 8:30 a.m., State House had heightened security as President Ruto’s swearing-in ceremony went ahead. Kithure Kindiki, the nominee for Interior Cabinet Secretary, was in charge of managing the expected protests.
By 9:00 a.m., the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) announced it was closely watching police conduct during the protests. This follows recent violence that has claimed 60 lives since June 18.
Around 9:30 a.m., police set up roadblocks on major routes into Nairobi, including Thika Road and Waiyaki Way. These roadblocks were meant to prevent protesters from reaching the CBD, causing a noticeable drop in traffic.
Protests started at 9:45 a.m., with small groups of protesters gathering at Archives and other CBD locations. They assembled near the Ambassador Hotel and along Moi Avenue, with police stationed at key spots like Kencom bus stop.
At 10:00 a.m., roadblocks were confirmed on major entry points into Nairobi, including Thika Super Highway at Safari Park. Additional roadblocks appeared in Pangani, further restricting access to the city.
Tensions escalated at 10:30 a.m. as police used tear gas to disperse crowds near the Tom Mboya statue on Moi Avenue. Reports indicated that several protesters were arrested along Kimathi Street.
By 11:30 a.m., the clashes continued as police intensified their efforts, using tear gas in various CBD locations, including Archives. Despite these measures, protesters kept rallying, and clashes erupted in several areas.
Disruptions intensified at 12:30 p.m. with more arrests along Kimathi Street and significant disruptions in the CBD. Many shops remained closed, and the atmosphere was tense.
1:00 p.m. saw more protesters make their way into town with the police, some in civilian clothes, arresting protesters and whisking them away, hopefully to police custody.
At 2:00 p.m., the police presence in the CBD is heavy. They are dispersing any groups that protesters are forming by lobbing teargas canisters at them.
The police are also reportedly firing live bullets at the peaceful protesters.
At 2:57 p.m., human rights activist Hussein Khalid tweeted on X, “They (police) are now shooting live bullets in the CBD. This is more than excessive force. It is too much and unwarranted. There is no provocation from the public, there is no violence. The only violent ones are the police.”
More updates to follow.
By Vivian K.
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