Roads remained largely deserted in parts of Nairobi on Wednesday after police blocked major highways leading into the Central Business District (CBD), restricting access to the city centre.
Videos seen by TNX Africa showed early morning checkpoints stopping both public service vehicles and private cars, leaving thousands of commuters stranded as they attempted to reach their destinations.
The disruption came as Kenya marked the second anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests led by Gen Z demonstrators.
Reports indicated that heavy traffic snarl-ups quickly formed along Mombasa Road, Thika Superhighway and Lang’ata Road.
Areas such as Mlolongo and Ongata Rongai were effectively cut off, with motorists being turned back at multiple police checkpoints.
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The travel chaos severely disrupted the morning rush hour despite government assurances that June 25 would be a normal working day.
"Tomorrow is a normal working and school day. However, the police have received a notification from some citizens who would like to engage in public demonstrations. Police are therefore ready to provide security and guide the protesters tomorrow according to their request," Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said in a statement issued on June 24.
With matatus barred from accessing key routes, some commuters were forced to walk long distances, while others hitched rides on cargo trucks to reach their destinations.
Along Waiyaki Way, a major roadblock at the 87 Junction halted traffic from Limuru.
Fearing possible unrest and damage to their vehicles, several long-distance bus companies suspended their operations for the day. Businesses within Nairobi CBD also remained closed.
The heightened security deployment comes exactly two years after the historic youth-led protests of June 2024, which left several people dead and many others injured.
Among those who lost their lives during the demonstrations were Erickson Mutisya (Kyalo), David Chege, Eric Shieni, Ibrahim Kamau Wanjiru, Kelvin Odhiambo Maina, Beasley Kogi (Kamau), Wilson Sitati, Kenneth Njiru Mwangi and Ernest Kanyi, among others.