Police ring-fence Parliament with razor wire mesh
By Mabonga Makhanu, June 25, 2025With the June 25 protests now gearing up in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), major roads have been cordoned off with razor wire.
Roads affected include Parliament Road and State House Road, which have been blocked with tape as the protests are expected to escalate.
Anti-riot officers have been deployed around the city to manage the situation. The roads have been cordoned off because the protestors announced plans to occupy and march to the State House.
Other roads affected
Other major routes leading into the CBD, such as Thika Superhighway, Valley Road, Ngong Road, Haile Selassie Avenue, and Globe Roundabout, have also been blocked. Police are manning all entry points, and no Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) are being allowed into the city centre. The result is a city running in slow motion—unusually quiet, with most shops closed and business activities brought to a halt.
Despite the government declaring the day a normal working day and banning public demonstrations, Gen Z activists and opposition leaders—among them Raila Odinga—have called for peaceful marches across all 47 counties, beginning at 10:00 AM.
They have also organised vigils in the CBD to honour victims of last year’s protests, during which at least 22 people lost their lives in violent confrontations with security forces.
Meanwhile, boda boda operators have publicly distanced themselves from today’s demonstrations, citing economic disruption and the need to maintain daily livelihoods.
Recent protests in June 2025 over the death of blogger Albert Ojwang have fuelled fears of violence, amplified by the government’s firm stance and warnings against unlawful gatherings. The U.S. Embassy has issued a demonstration alert, urging caution. As of 09:52 AM EAT, no active protests have been reported in the CBD, but the heavy security presence and heightened public sentiment suggest a potentially volatile situation.
Opposition leaders led by Kalonzo Musyoka and Fred Matiangi have also joined the protests as they stand in solidarity with the families who lost their kin during last year’s 2024 Gen Z demos.
They were on the way to Parliament to lay rites in Parliament but were barred from accessing it and chose to do it at Holy Family Basilica.