City Affairs

Uneasy calm in Nairobi CBD amid heavy security presence

A view of a clear City Hall Way in Nairobi CBD on June 27, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | Thursday, June 27, 2024

A spot check by The Eastleigh Voice on Thursday morning revealed most streets had little activities going on with few commuters spotted.

Most business premises within Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) remained closed as an uneasy calm swept across the capital.

A spot check by The Eastleigh Voice on Thursday morning revealed most streets had little activities going on with few commuters spotted.

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Along City Hall Way, the Nairobi County Green Army members were seen for the second day running removing debris which had been littered on the road from Tuesday's anti-finance protests.

Members of the Nairobi County Green Army clearing debris along City Hall Way on June 27, 2024. (Photo: Barack Oduor)

Outside the Supreme Court, there were people spotted with the parking lot being a ghost space, with no vehicles parked.

In downtown areas of Moi Avenue, Tom Mboya, Ronald Ngala and Mfangano Streets, the areas were almost empty as few individuals could be seen heading in different directions.

A police lorry parked along Moi Avenue in Nairobi CBD ahead of the anticipated protests pic.twitter.com/C1nUvnwh04
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) June 27, 2024

Around the Kenya National Archives, a place which is normally full of commuters only a few people were present with police in uniform were spotted in the area.

Along Kenyetta Avenue, Police trucks were spotted parked on the roads.

All roads leading to Parliament have been sealed off with heavy police presence around the buildings.

All roads leading to Parliament were closed with police presence intensified on June 27, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

Police were blocking vehicles and pedestrians seeking to gain access through any of the sealed-off roads including Parliament Road, a section of Harambee Avenue and Cardinal Otunga.

At the same time, police also mounted security checks on all roads leading to State House, Nairobi.

This follows plans by youths to hold demonstrations despite President William Ruto's decision to send the contentious Finance Bill back to Parliament.

Despite light showers experienced in the morning, anti-riot police on certain roads are turning away motorists, boda bodas, and pedestrians.

The roads affected included Processional Way, Valley Road, Jakaya Kikwete Road, Dennis Pritt Road, State House Avenue and adjacent feeder roads.

Security checks were placed on all roads leading to State House, Nairobi on June 27, 2024. (Photo: Barack Oduor)

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) were seen on standby at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi ahead of any planned protests in the capital.

The relative calm follows President William Ruto's announcement on Wednesday indicating he had declined to assent to the Finance Bill, 2024.

"Having reflected on the continuing conversation around the content of the Finance Bill 2024, and listening keenly to the people of Kenya, who have said loudly they don't want anything to do with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 Finance Bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn and I have agreed with these members that this becomes our collective position," Ruto said while addressing the nation.

Later in the evening, the President formally communicated to the National Assembly to delete all clauses of the Finance Bill, 2024.

This comes shortly after he rejected to assent to the Finance Bill, saying that he heard the cry of citizens who were urging him to drop the bill.

"In exercise of the powers conferred to me by Article 115(1)(b) of the Constitution, and having reservations on the content of the Bill in its entirety, I decline to assent to the Finance Bill, 2024, and refer the bill for reconsideration by the National Assembly with the recommendation for deletion of the clauses thereof," reads the memorandum in part.