The usually bustling heart of Kenya’s capital has been transformed into a ghost town. Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) woke up to a heavy, eerie quiet on Thursday morning. The vibrant sights and deafening sounds of morning traffic have vanished.
As captured in images by X users, heavy deployments of anti-riot police have effectively fortified the city center. Security forces have set up extensive razor-wire barricades and roadblocks.
They have cut off key entry points. These security measures are concentrated around major national institutions, including Parliament Buildings and the Supreme Court.
Empty Streets and Locked Shops
The city’s economic engine has paused. On key arteries such as Kenyatta Avenue, Moi Avenue, and Tom Mboya Street, the silence is stark. Shops, banks, and corporate offices have kept their doors firmly shut. Business owners are taking no chances.
"The current situation along Tom Mboya Street is normally very busy! Walking nation!” another one added.
Pedestrian walkways that usually handle hundreds of thousands of commuters are nearly empty. Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) have been barred from entering the city center. This has left the few workers who ventured out with no choice but to complete long journeys on foot.
Remembering the June 2024 Casualties
This massive security operation coincides with the planned demonstrations organized by activists. The events mark exactly two years since the historic, Gen Z-led demonstrations against the 2024 Finance Bill.
Those protests reached a climax on 25 June 2024, when protesters briefly breached parliament.
The anniversary demonstrations aim to honor the lives of the protesters who died during the unrest. Human rights groups estimate that dozens of young Kenyans lost their lives during the weeks of protests two years ago.
Activists had planned peaceful assemblies and candlelit vigils to commemorate those individuals. However, the state has responded with a massive show of force to prevent any gathering in the capital.
With vehicles completely locked out of the city center, Nairobi has briefly become a pedestrian-only zone. Images shared by online news outlets show lines of security officers in full gear keeping watch over vacant roundabouts.
The strict security enforcement has sparked mixed reactions from stranded residents. While some understand the precaution to prevent property destruction, many complain about the disruption to daily life.
For now, the heart of Nairobi remains frozen in anticipation, monitored closely by police forces on every corner.
