Road barricades spark outrage after state assurances of normal working day

Thousands of city-bound commuters were forced to walk long distances on Thursday morning after police barricaded key roads leading into Nairobi's Central Business District ahead of activities marking the second anniversary of the 2024 Gen Z protests.

Police sealed off major entry points into the CBD, restricting access from Jogoo Road, Waiyaki Way, Uhuru Highway, Juja Road, Thika Road, Mombasa Road, Lang'ata Road and Kiambu Road.

The road closures disrupted public transport and private travel, leaving many commuters stranded and unable to access their workplaces through their usual routes.

Vehicles from Eastlands and the Industrial Area that normally access the city centre through Landhies Road were turned away at the City Stadium roundabout.

Motorists using Waiyaki Way encountered a roadblock near the 87 area in Kinoo and Kangemi, while traffic from Ongata Rongai and Mombasa Road was denied access to Uhuru Highway and redirected at the Nyayo Stadium roundabout on Bunyala Road.

Matatus operating along Jogoo Road and Enterprise Road were forced to reroute to Muthurwa Market after being denied entry into the CBD.

Similarly, motorists approaching the city via Ngong Road found barricades at roundabouts connecting to Haile Selassie Avenue and Kenyatta Avenue through Uhuru Highway.

On Thika Road, police erected barricades at the Githurai roundabout, triggering heavy congestion around Roysambu, Allsops and Kasarani amid heightened security patrols along the highway.

Motorists were forced to use alternative routes through Garden Estate and Muthaiga to connect to Kiambu Road.

There was also a heavy police presence at King'eero Junction on Lower Kabete Road and at the Western Bypass interchange, where matatus were reportedly being turned back to Wangige.

The restrictions sparked frustration among commuters, particularly after the government had assured Kenyans that Thursday would be a normal working day despite planned memorial activities.

"Thursday will be a normal business and school day. Our children are free to go to school and people to go about their businesses," Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said on Wednesday.

He said the constitution guarantees the right to education and lawful means of earning a living.

The CS said police would provide security to protesters but urged members of the public, including protesters, to make prudent safety decisions and avoid putting themselves in risky situations that could trigger confrontation with the officers.

"Even if you are a peaceful protester and find yourself in the middle of goons and criminals, it is advisable that you make the right decision by disassociating yourself from this company," he said.

The extensive roadblocks, however, drew criticism from some Kenyans who questioned how people were expected to report to work if major access routes into the city remained closed.

Murkomen alisema June 25th is a normal, working and school day (despite schools being on half term break) alafu askari wake wanajaza roadblocks kwa barabara za kuenda kazi," one Kenyan posted online.

Another asked: "If today is truly a working day as Murkomen stated, how are commuters meant to reach the CBD?"