Two shot in Kangemi amid Saba Saba protest chaos

Two people have been reportedly shot in Kangemi as police battle protesters in various towns during this year’s Saba Saba Day demonstrations, which turned violent in parts of Nairobi and other counties.

Tensions escalated amid widespread disruptions, heavy security deployment, and street battles with tear gas, bonfires, and gunfire reported in several hotspots.

As of 1:00 pm, Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) had ground to a halt. Businesses were shuttered, streets largely deserted, and police had sealed off key entry points to the city centre to prevent access by protesters.

“We no longer trust the police,” a group of traders told journalists earlier, as they armed themselves to protect their businesses from potential looters, including those in Nairobi’s Eastleigh and Kamukunji areas.

Protesters in these neighbourhoods were seen chanting and lighting fires as security personnel fired tear gas to disperse them.

In Kangemi, plainclothes officers were spotted arriving in unmarked vehicles shortly before a protester was shot dead.

Videos seen by the Eastleigh Voice showed a body lying in the middle of the road, sparking outrage from onlookers. Police have yet to release a formal statement on the killing.

Elsewhere in the city, at the Globe Roundabout, boda boda riders were arrested after police accused them of attempting to sneak demonstrators into the CBD.

Their motorcycles were impounded and loaded into police lorries.

By early afternoon, aerial surveillance from a police helicopter hovered over Thika Road, where no vehicles were seen moving. Intense protests had erupted in Githurai, with riot police exchanging stones and tear gas with protesters. Running battles were also reported in Roysambu.

In Kitengela, Kajiado County, chaos erupted around 10:00 am when youth lit bonfires and blocked the Nairobi–Namanga Road, halting transport. The General Service Unit (GSU) was deployed alongside water cannons to contain the situation, while businesses remained closed throughout the town.

“We’ve had to shut down and leave town,” a Kitengela trader told reporters.

Protests also broke out in Kiserian, where large groups of young people occupied roads, lit fires, and chanted slogans. Police were at one point overwhelmed and retreated before regaining control.

In Kisumu, however, demonstrations remained peaceful. Residents staged a calm procession calling for national unity, a sharp contrast to the violent scenes unfolding elsewhere.

Meanwhile, in Machakos, demonstrations were reported earlier in the day, though neighbouring Athi River remained calm, with business continuing as usual.

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In Murang’a, major supermarkets and commercial establishments fortified their entrances in anticipation of looting, drawing lessons from the June 25 protests. A heavy contingent of anti-riot police patrolled the streets, while most matatus remained parked.

Residents reported that tens of unidentified youths had arrived in the town from neighbouring areas the night before, sparking fears of coordinated chaos. Many traders who briefly opened in the morning had shut down by midday.

In Maua town, Meru County, one man sustained injuries during confrontations between police and demonstrators. He was rushed to the hospital as police moved swiftly to seal off the town’s two main entrances to prevent further escalation.

In Kisii, protesters placed a coffin on a road in the Mashauri area as part of a symbolic protest action. Police removed it shortly afterwards as security officers worked to de-escalate tension.

The situation turned volatile in Nyeri, where journalists came under attack. Three reporters, two from Royal Media Services and one from Mediamax, were reportedly assaulted by suspected goons while covering the protests. The same group was reported attempting to break into a local supermarket.

Protesters also clashed with police in Wote, Karatina, and Mwea, where roads were barricaded and bonfires lit. Running battles played out for hours in some areas, with security personnel firing tear gas to disperse the crowds.

Meanwhile, towns such as Narok, Eldoret, and Nakuru remained on edge. A heavy police presence was reported in central business areas, and most shops kept their doors closed throughout the day. Despite the absence of full-blown confrontations, the atmosphere in these regions remained tense, with residents choosing to stay indoors amid fears of fresh violence.

In Kamukunji grounds, crowds swelled as the afternoon wore on. Some people could be seen armed with batons, saying they were protecting their premises from looting. ODM leader Raila Odinga was expected to address the gathering at 3:00 pm.

This year’s Saba Saba protests, held annually on July 7 to commemorate the 1990 movement for multiparty democracy, have taken on new significance amid rising youth activism. The Gen Z-led protests are demanding accountability, justice for victims of police brutality, and economic reforms.

The movement follows the June 25, 2024, demonstrations, where several people were killed during protests against the controversial Finance Bill 2024. The memory of those deaths has fuelled today’s resistance, with youth calling for continued pressure on the government.

Despite the police sealing off all major entry points into Nairobi’s CBD, sporadic confrontations continued throughout the day. Medical tents set up in the CBD remained largely unused, with emergency teams reporting no injuries there as police successfully blocked protesters from entering the city centre.

Across all protest zones, police deployed armoured vehicles, water cannons, razor wire, mounted patrols and aerial surveillance to maintain control.

Authorities have yet to release an official tally of arrests, injuries, or deaths, though the situation remained volatile into the late afternoon.