Rowdy youth in Nakuru on Monday barricaded the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway and lit bonfires, disrupting transport on the busy road during the Saba Saba protests.
Anti-riot police officers had a difficult time containing the youths who used tyres and heavy stones to block various sections of the highway.
A protester carries the National flag at Free Area, along Nakuru-Nairobi highway on July 7, 2025 during Saba Saba protests.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Armed with crude weapons, the youths pelted police officers with stones and blocked key areas including Free Area, Naivasha Town and Karai, engaging officers in running battles.
Police were forced to use teargas and at times, rubber bullets to disperse the protesters.
For the better part of Monday, Nakuru City remained a ghost town.
Anti-riot police patrol Nakuru City on July 7, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Heavy contingents of anti-riot police were spotted patrolling the streets using vehicles, horses and on foot.
Officers were also deployed to guard key government installations including State House Nakuru, the Nakuru Law Courts, the Nakuru County Government headquarters and the Rift Valley Regional Headquarters.
Several businesses in Nakuru including supermarkets, banks, restaurants and shopping malls remained closed as owners feared a repeat of the June 25 protests during which shops and other business premises were looted and vandalised.
Protesters demonstrate at Free Area, on Nakuru-Nairobi highway on July 7, 2025 after they blocked it during Saba Saba protest.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Some traders, taking no chances, hired individuals armed with batons to guard their business premises.
“I was expecting to meet a new client who was supposed to service his car and earn me Sh2,000, but this was disrupted by the protests,” said Mr Michael Mwangi, a mechanic in the Shabaab area.
Most public schools recorded low learner turnout as parents kept their children at home while the majority of private schools remained closed.
Closed shops along Kenyatta Avenue in Nakuru City on July 7, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Public Service Vehicles that normally ply the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway, the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway, the Nakuru-Kabarnet Road and the Nakuru-Nyahururu Road were withdrawn due to fears of attacks.
In Naivasha, a group of youths blocked sections of the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway on Sunday night, ahead of Saba Saba Day.
They robbed several passengers of cash and valuables. Motorists caught off guard by the illegal roadblocks were forced to pay to proceed while others refused to stop.
The most affected areas included Kayole, Kinungi, Ihindu and the Flyover. However, the police intervened to restore order.
Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner Josiah Odongo said calm had returned following the deployment of police to the affected areas.
“Groups of youths had blocked sections of the highway on Sunday night but we managed to contain the situation, and traffic flow resumed,” he said.
Security patrols were intensified in Naivasha town and its surroundings to prevent a repeat of last week’s looting of three supermarkets.
A deserted Flamingo Avenue in Nakuru City on July 7, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
On Monday, protesters also blocked several roads including the busy Moi South Lake Road, especially at Kamere Centre. This led to significant traffic jams affecting workers heading to KenGen, flower farms and hotels. Anti-riot police were deployed to clear the roads.
In Nyahururu and Ol Kalou towns in Laikipia and Nyandarua Counties areas severely affected by the June 25 protests, police engaged locals in running battles after they attempted to erect illegal roadblocks.
Protesters hang on a military Toyota Land Cruiser as they demonstrate at Free Area, on Nakuru-Nairobi highway on July 7, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
However, Bomet and Kericho towns remained calm with no protests reported across those Rift Valley towns.
Major roads in the region, including the Nairobi-Nakuru-Eldoret Highway, the Maai Mahiu-Narok Highway, the Nakuru-Nyahururu Road, the Nakuru-Kabarnet Road and the Nakuru-Kericho Road remained deserted for most of the day as PSV operators stayed off the roads.
By Eric Matara, Mercy Koskei, Waikwa Maina, Vitalis Kimutai, John Njoroge and Tobby Meso
