Protesters barricade a section of the Nyeri-Nairobi highway in Karatina town, Nyeri County, during the Saba Saba protests.
Karatina town, the epicentre of protests in Nyeri County, came to a standstill as early as 7am on Monday ahead of the 35th Saba Saba celebrations.
Businesses, including banks and transport in and out of the town, were paralised.
Schools suspended learning as youths barricaded the main Karatina–Nairobi highway, which is part of the Great North Road that links Nairobi to the North Eastern region, including Nanyuki town, a popular holiday destination.
Protesters set a kiosk ablaze in Karatina town, Nyeri County, during the Saba Saba protests on July 7, 2025.
Tension was high as protesters engaged the police in running battles. The rowdy attempted to break into a supermarket.
Demonstrations began around 7.30am as groups of youths lit bonfires and blew whistles, chanting "one term" slogans.
It remained relatively calm until about 9.30am when heavily armed anti-riot police moved in to clear the highway. Demonstrators responded by pelting the officers with stones, leading to fierce street battles.
In Nyeri town, tension simmered in the early morning hours with businesses shutting down amid a heavy police presence. However, clashes erupted around 11am when a group of youth tried to access the CBD prompting anti-riot police to lob tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Police officers at the scene where protesters had barricaded a section of the Nyeri-Nairobi highway in Karatina town, Nyeri County, during Saba Saba protests.
By around 12.30pm, police were still battling rioting youths in Karatina while in Nyeri, the unrest had been momentarily contained.
In Embu town and Ngurubani town, Kirinyaga County, police dispersed demonstrators and engaged protesters in running battles.
The protesters had barricaded the Embu–Makutano road with bonfires for the better part of the morning, causing a major traffic snarl-up.
Tension mounted as the demonstrators, mainly young men, demanded good governance. Business came to a halt in the usually busy town as traders hurriedly closed their shops fearing looting.
When police arrived and ordered the protesters to disperse, they defied the order prompting officers to charge at them. A fierce battle broke out with the demonstrators hurling stones before eventually being overpowered and chased away.
Protesters barricade a section of the Nyeri-Nairobi highway in Karatina town, Nyeri County, during the Saba Saba protests.
In Murang’a, hundreds of youths blocked the border with Kirinyaga at Sagana.
At least five roadblocks were erected by youths who were charging motorists to pass. The blockade effectively cut off Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Embu counties which share common transport routes.
In Maua town, Meru County, some protesters barricaded roads with bonfires and stones as police remained on high alert.
Reporting by Stephen Munyiri, Mercy Mwende, George Munene, Mwangi Muiruri and David Muchui
