The National Police Service will double the number of officers deployed to guard Nairobi during today’s Saba Saba demonstrations, the Nation can reveal.
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja hopes the expanded deployment will help prevent the kind of widespread looting witnessed during the July 25 protests.
Speaking to the Nation on Sunday, Mr Kanja said the heavy police presence is intended to ensure there are no incidents of looting and to assure the safety of protesters.
“We want every street, every corner well patrolled. We don’t want cases of theft and hooliganism,” he stated.
Police on horseback patrol Parliament Road in Nairobi on June 25, 2025 during the anti-government protest on June 25, 2025.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
The increased number of officers is part of a strategy to manage crowds in the event of a high turnout of demonstrators entering the Central Business District (CBD).
Protest organisers rallying under the “Saba Saba” banner have urged young people to come out in large numbers to demand action from the Kenya Kwanza administration on police killings and brutality.
Over the weekend, top police chiefs held a series of meetings to finalise the new security strategy. Sources within the police estimate that over 500 officers will be deployed in Nairobi today.
Discussions during these meetings included identifying potential violence hotspots, tracking protest financiers and finalising plans for crowd control.
Police stand guard along Parliament Road in Nairobi on June 25, 2025 during the anti-government protest on June 25, 2025.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
Some of these strategy sessions were held at the Office of the President and at the National Police Service headquarters in Jogoo House and were attended by IG Kanja, DCI boss Mohammed Amin, Deputy Inspector-General Gilbert Masengeli, and Acting DIG Patrick Tito.
The revised operation plan seeks to prevent the destruction of property seen during the last demonstrations.
During the June 25 protests, criminals took advantage of the chaos to loot businesses in the OTC area of Nairobi, resulting in the loss of property worth millions. Some traders also suffered further losses when arsonists set fire to their premises.
Razor-sharp barbed wire at the entrance to Parliament Road on June 25, 2025.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
In addition to the increased manpower, security chiefs have retained some of the strategies employed during past protests. Police also intensified a crackdown on individuals caught on camera looting and setting fires during earlier protests.
The DCI has been pursuing suspects believed to be behind the planning and execution of the protests.
Last Friday, chaos erupted at the Ruiru Law Courts after armed officers stormed the premises and rearrested DCP Kiambu youth leader Peter Kinyanjui, alias Kawanjiru, who had just been released. Police fired shots in the air to disperse a crowd that attempted to block the arrest. Mr Kinyanjui was eventually bundled into a police van and taken to an unknown location.
Police lob teargas canisters to disperse a crowd at Roysambu roundabout, Nairobi, on June 25, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
Later at Kiambu Police Station, youth clashed with police after Wanjiku Thiga, another individual under investigation over the July 25 protests, was rearrested. She had earlier been released on a bond of Sh50,000.
At the DCI headquarters, the Serious Crimes Unit has summoned at least a dozen people to record statements regarding protest planning.
Last week, Karatina MCA Watson Weru and several other allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recorded statements with the DCI in connection with the Gen Z-led demonstrations.
