Nairobi Regional Commander Issa Mohamud has come out to deny claims that police deliberately blocked residents from accessing the Central Business District on Monday, July 7.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Speaking to the press on afternoon of July 7, Mohamud explained that the heavy police presence witnessed across the city was not meant to punish anyone, but rather to manage a tense situation shaped by past events.

According to him, officers were simply controlling access into the city, screening and verifying people before letting them proceed to their destinations. “We do not deny anybody. But we control the access. After screening and sieving and verification, we release you to come forward,” stated Mohamud.

He pointed back to what happened during last year's Saba Saba protests as well as the June 25 demos, urging Kenyans to revisit footage from 2025 to understand why extra caution was necessary this time round.

📌 What You Need to Know

Mohamud however did admit that the process took longer than expected, blaming the sheer number of vehicles and pedestrians for the delays, and said the police regretted any inconvenience caused. “But we regret if the process maybe was very slow because of the number of vehicles and the people. We regret that. But our intention is not to harm or to inflict any problem to the community,” Mohamud said.

However, this contrasted with the experience of many motorists and pedestrians heading to the CBD, who found police had sealed off major roads leading into the city, catching commuters and civil servants off guard.

Public service vehicles and private cars were turned away at several checkpoints, forcing thousands of Nairobians to abandon their vehicles and walk the rest of the way to work.

On Thika Road, officers mounted diversions at Allsops, Githurai, Roysambu, Kasarani and the busy Pangani Interchange, snarling up traffic for hours.

Waiyaki Way was not spared either, with complete blockades reported near Kangemi, Uthiru 87 and the Gitaru Interchange, while Mombasa Road, Lang'ata Road and Jogoo Road also saw barricades at key roundabouts.

By evening, police confirmed that Monday's protests had passed without any deaths, injuries, looting or theft reported anywhere within the city.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke