Hundreds of young people returning from the Summer Tides Festival in Diani on Sunday, July 6, were left stranded at the Dongo Kundu Bypass in Likoni after police officers reportedly set up a roadblock, suspecting they were heading to Nairobi for the planned Saba Saba demonstrations.

According to Hussein Khalid, an activist and founder of Vocal Africa, the police halted the group without clear reason, claiming the youth were on their way to join protests scheduled for Monday, July 7.

In a video shared by Khalid, long lines of vehicles could be seen backed up on the road, with visibly frustrated passengers expressing confusion and anger as they waited without explanation.

Many of the affected travellers had planned to board the  2pm SGR train to Nairobi but were unable to reach the station in time.

“Now police are curtailing freedom of movement! Hundreds of youth from Nairobi who had attended the Diani Summer Tides Festival have been stopped at Dongo Kundu Bypass. Police are claiming the youth are en route to participate in the Saba Saba protests,” Khalid said.

Those held at the roadblock reportedly received no official charges or documents and were instead told the operation was based on “orders from above.”

The National Police Service (NPS) has maintained that it has not received any formal notifications regarding Monday’s demonstrations.

Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said any public gathering must follow due process, including seeking clearance from authorities, and warned that failure to comply risks escalation and damage to property.

Security in Nairobi and other major towns has been heightened ahead of the Saba Saba anniversary, with government offices barricaded and surveillance increased.

Military units have reportedly been placed on standby, echoing similar measures taken during the June 25 protests.

The standoff comes at a time when debate continues around the proposed Assembly and Demonstration Bill, 2024, which seeks to outlaw public protests within 100 metres of critical government buildings including Parliament and State House.

Human rights groups, clergy, and opposition leaders have rejected the proposal, arguing it undermines Article 37 of the Constitution, which protects the right to assemble and demonstrate.

Meanwhile, civil servants have been warned not to skip work on Monday. Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said absenteeism would not be tolerated, adding that all government departments must remain functional.

In a separate statement, the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) urged the government to avoid use of force, calling for peaceful engagement with demonstrators. The Motorists Association of Kenya also called on the police to allow freedom of movement and avoid intimidation of citizens.

Ahead of the demonstrations, several businesses in Nairobi have scaled back operations or temporarily moved stock due to safety concerns. Some schools have advised parents to keep their children at home, as tension builds around what is expected to be a major day of protests.