Nane Nane March: Heavy police presence in Nairobi

By Peter Ochieng

There is a heavy police deployment within the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), as security agencies move to contain effects of youth-led demonstrations, dubbed 'Nane Nane march.'

Nane Nane is the Kiswahili word for August 8th, reminding Kenyans of the date of the last general elections in 2022 when William Ruto was elected Kenya's 5th president.

Several businesses remain shut, as few public service vehicles are seen on roads in Nairobi. 

Ahead of the demos, police warned that goons had planned to take over and cause mayhem.

“The initial demonstrations held in June were peaceful but subsequent protests morphed into riots, with looters destroying and stealing property,” Acting Police Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli said while addressing the press on Wednesday.

“Our intelligence reports indicate that there are security threats to the country with criminals planning to infiltrate tomorrow's demonstrations and commit further crimes. In anticipation, we have ensured adequate deployment of personnel."

On social media, the Generation Zoomers (GEN-Zs) who are behind the protests claim they will 'Occupy State House in a bid to remove Ruto from power.'

The demonstrations are a continuation of the protests that began in June, which saw youth breach Parliament on June 25, forcing president Ruto to withdrew the Finance Bill, 2024 in its entirety, besides dissolving his first Cabinet.

About half of members of his first Cabinet were re-nominated, have been vetted and passed by the National Assembly. They are expected to be sworn in today.

Some Kenyans have however expressed their dissatisfaction with the move to bring back some members of the dissolved Cabinet.

Over 50 people were killed during the June and July protests.