CS Murkomen walks through Nairobi streets as June 25 anniversary begins
The security team made its way through key city routes including City Hall Way and University Way, occasionally stopping to speak with residents going about their morning activities.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Wednesday morning walked through the streets of Nairobi’s Central Business District, engaging members of the public and police officers as the country marked the anniversary of the July 25, 2024 Gen Z protests.
Accompanied by Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli and other senior police commanders, the Cabinet Secretary began his walk from the Office of the President on Harambee Avenue.
The security team made its way through key city routes including City Hall Way and University Way, occasionally stopping to speak with residents going about their morning activities.
The impromptu walk followed a closed-door meeting with Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and other senior officers at Harambee House earlier in the day. Along the route, Murkomen interacted with boda boda riders, mkokoteni operators, and commuters, as police maintained a visible presence in the capital.
The walkabout came as the government intensified security coordination in anticipation of commemorative protests.
Kenyans are marking one year since the Gen Z-led demonstrations that culminated in the storming of Parliament—a moment that sparked a national reckoning and a surge in youth-led civic action.
Some protestors returned to the streets on Wednesday to honour those who lost their lives during last year’s unrest. The mood in the city was tense, with large numbers of demonstrators carrying Kenyan flags, whistles, and water as they moved through the CBD.
Major business areas such as Tom Mboya Street, Moi Avenue, Wabera Street, and Ronald Ngala Street remained mostly closed. Only a few traders dared open their shops as heavily armed police patrolled nearly deserted streets.
Despite calls for peaceful demonstrations from organisers, the government maintained a tough warning against any acts of violence or lawlessness. Authorities said that anyone found inciting unrest or engaging in looting would be arrested and prosecuted.
Deputy IG Masengeli, who accompanied Murkomen during the walk, said, “We are on the ground to ensure there is order and to protect those who are peacefully expressing themselves.”
By mid-morning, despite the heavy security deployment, only minimal crowd activity had been observed across the city.
