Nairobi: CBD back to life, normal business operations resume

Anti-Finance bill protestors demonstrate in Nairobi on July 2, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

After weeks of heightened protests within Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), calm seems to have returned as the capital slowly roars back to life.

A spot-check by The Standard on Tuesday, July 9 across the capital revealed normal operations had resumed, signifying progress in healing from teargas smoke that rented the city air over the past few weeks.

Most shops that would have otherwise remained closed for fear of planned demonstrations today, were opened.

The youths, mainly Gen Zs and millennials had planned to picket within the CBD in a protest dubbed "Occupy CBD," calling for accountability from state officers in a raft of demands to the government after their agitation morphed from asking for total rejection of Finance Bill 2024 to complete overhaul of the government.

However, the police were not leaving anything to chance as the officers maintained their presence, patrolling most parts of the town especially uptown.

The Parliament buildings that was invaded by protestors on June 23, continued to witness heavy security that included military personnel who complemented the police in manning the area albeit in reduced numbers.

Earlier, some streets leading to Parliament had roadblocks mounted by the police but were later opened to the public.

Traffic flow has also resumed as normalcy on the roads returned with Kenyans going about their businesses with less fear.

The Standard spot-check also established security beefed up outside State House with most roads leading to the President's official residence closed.