Kenyans were treated to an unofficial national holiday on Monday during the celebration of Saba Saba’s anniversary. The capital city was inaccessible since the wee hours of morning almost from all entries to the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
The first casualties were people who were arriving from the upcountry, especially from Western, Rift Valley, and Nyanza regions. Police had mounted a barricade at Kangemi town, and no one was allowed to access the CBD. Passengers were forced to alight and find alternative routes to reach their destinations.
Despite an earlier directive by Cabinet secretary Godfrey Ruku on all government and civil staff to report to work, all roads were blocked, and there was no way many of them would get to their work stations.
This is contrary to the Deputy Inspector Gilbert Masingeli, who, while doing a patrol in the city, clarified that everybody is allowed to enter the CBD and that people are reporting to work.
Throughout the day, Kangemi was a hotspot that saw a handful of protesters who engaged the police in a cat-and-mouse game. The battle saw at least one person dead.
Economically, there was no transaction taking place. Nairobi CBD was out of bounds for everyone. The police had intensified security to avert what was witnessed during the first anniversary of Gen Z that took place on 25 June. Many businesses were looted and wide destruction of property was destroyed. Several government buildings were reduced to ashes, including several police stations.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga announced plans to be at historical Kamukunji grounds to commemorate the day. At around noon, tens of protesters were kept away from accessing the venue. However, Raila was not able to go to Kamkunji grounds but opted to give a presser from Serena Hotel.
Raila defended his no-show at Kamukunji, citing roadblocks all over town making people to reach Kamukunji.
The former PM revealed that in 1982, parliament introduced section 2A, which made it illegal for Kenyans to start a political party. Adding that that is what triggered the failed 1982 coup and the aftermath saw several political arrests. Raila says he was also arrested and detained for 6 years,
The opposition figure during his presser expounded that the saba saba was a result of Kenyans pushing for making Kenya a multi-party nation.
Kangemi, Kitengela and some towns along Thika Road can be ruled out as a hotspot zone since at every protest,there are always fatalities and sabotage of the economy along those areas.
