A chilly, grey morning ushered in Saba Saba Day in Nairobi, but it wasn’t the weather that defined the city’s mood.

Instead, it was the extensive security operation that left large parts of the capital paralysed, as police sealed off roads, shut down public transport routes, and turned away vehicles from entering the city centre in anticipation of Gen Z-led protests.

From as early as 5 am, Nairobi’s Central Business District was rendered nearly inaccessible. Key roads were closed off, and a sweeping police presence disrupted morning movement, forcing many residents to abandon vehicles and walk long distances to town. Public service vehicles, private cars, and even long-distance buses were blocked at several major entry points.

At the Roysambu Roundabout on Thika Road, police fully sealed access to the city, stranding passengers and triggering a mass foot trek. Similar scenes were witnessed at Allsops, where traffic came to a near halt due to roadblocks.

On Waiyaki Way in Kangemi, officers used four police vehicles to block the Kangemi Bridge completely, stopping all vehicles including buses and journalists—from proceeding into town.

Sealed Off

Access via Ngong Road was restricted at The Junction Mall, while Uhuru Highway was blocked near The Mall in Westlands. Other affected roads included Valley Road at the Department of Defence (DOD), State House Road near Integrity Centre, Mombasa Road at GM, and Thika Road at Pangani.

Barricades and police units also locked down areas around Nyayo Stadium junction, Pangani, Kenyatta National Hospital roundabout, and all approaches to State House.

Outside Kabete Police Station, long-distance buses were seen parked on the roadside after being barred from moving towards the city centre.

By 6 am, crowds of stranded commuters had gathered at several roadblocks, confused and frustrated as transport plans collapsed without prior warning.

The crackdown comes just hours after similar action in Mombasa on Sunday evening, where police intercepted hundreds of young people returning to Nairobi from the Summer Tides Festival in Diani.

The travellers were stopped at the Dongo Kundu Bypass on suspicion they were headed to the capital to participate in the Saba Saba protests.

Train Service Cancelled

Further adding to the disruption, Kenya Railways abruptly cancelled the 10 pm Madaraka Express train from Mombasa to Nairobi, citing a “technical fault.”

The sudden move left many passengers stranded at the Mombasa Terminus with no alternative travel options or clear communication from authorities.

As police maintained their grip on the city, what was meant to be a day to honour the Saba Saba movement’s legacy of civil resistance and calls for reform has instead raised fresh questions about freedom of assembly, state response to dissent, and the growing influence of digitally mobilised youth.