Ten Arrested in Nairobi as Police Block Historic Saba Saba Protests
Nairobi, 7 July 2026
On the 36th anniversary of Kenya’s struggle for democracy, Nairobi police arrested ten protesters and locked down the capital, declaring the historic Saba Saba demonstrations illegal.
Demands for Accountability Meet a Police Lockdown
The tense situation unfolding in Nairobi on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, follows days of mounting anticipation. As previously reported in our coverage of the planned march to Parliament [6], civil society groups had prepared to petition the government against extrajudicial killings. The Grassroots Economic Justice Movement had formally notified security agencies of their plan to lead approximately 3,000 participants from Jeevanjee Gardens to Parliament buildings [2]. However, the planned demonstration was swiftly blocked by a massive security operation across the capital [2][4].
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud declared the planned Saba Saba demonstrations illegal, warning that any participants would be treated as criminals [1][2]. Mohamud asserted that the police had not received any formal, legal notification from the organisers [2]. In response to the planned march, the National Police Service (NPS) announced and deployed enhanced security checkpoints across Nairobi [5], effectively sealing off key areas of the city [2][4].
Widespread Disruption and Arrests in the Capital
By Tuesday morning, police forces had mounted heavy roadblocks along major transport arteries, including Jogoo Road, Mombasa Road, and Thika Road, slowing traffic to a crawl [2]. Barbed-wire barricades were erected around the parliamentary precinct, and police officers conducted rigorous vehicle screenings at key entry points into the capital [4]. Despite these deterrents, some activists attempted to hold demonstrations, resulting in Nairobi police arresting at least ten protesters within the Central Business District (CBD) [1][3].
The security lockdown severely disrupted daily life in Nairobi, with public transport remaining minimal and many commuters choosing to stay away from the city centre [2][4]. Numerous businesses remained shuttered due to safety concerns [4]. The education sector also suffered; schools in urban areas were hardest hit by the transport lockdowns, leaving classrooms at institutions like Moi Avenue Primary School entirely empty [1].
Historical Echoes and the Impact on Refugee Communities
Saba Saba, which translates to “Seven Seven”, commemorates the historic protests on 7 July 1990—occurring exactly 36 years ago—that successfully pressured the state to transition to multi-party democracy [4]. Today’s demonstrations also fall just weeks after the second anniversary of the deadly youth-led anti-Finance Bill protests of June 2024 [2][4]. The memory of the 2025 Saba Saba protests remains fresh, where clashes turned fatal as the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) confirmed 38 deaths and at least 130 injuries nationwide [2].
For refugees living in Kenya, particularly those travelling between Nairobi and transit hubs like the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County, these political disruptions present acute safety risks [GPT]. Kakuma’s residents and administrative staff frequently rely on transit routes through Nairobi for essential travel, medical referrals, and documentation services [GPT]. The closure of key roads [2] and the intensive screening of vehicles at capital entry points [4] mean that transiting refugees must exercise extreme caution. Navigating urban transit hubs during periods of civil unrest and heavy police deployment increases the risk of being stranded or inadvertently caught in violent confrontations [GPT].