The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) on Thursday, June 26, 2025, embarked on a clean-up exercise along the Thika Superhighway, which was a scene of running battles with the police during the Wednesday, June 25, 2025, demonstrations.
Labourers from KeNHA were scene on the road moving heavy jersey barriers that had been dragged from the side of the highway into the lanes.
On Wednesday, police officers faced difficulties in restraining thousands of protesters coming from the highway from accessing the city centre.
CBD restrictions
While a police barrier had initially been mounted at the globe roundabout to restrict vehicular and human traffic into the CBD, police officers were soon overwhelmed, letting thousands of protesters into the city centre.
Violent scenes marked what was planned to be a solemn memorial of the Gen Z victims who were killed in 2024 while agitating for good governance.
Similar police barriers along Uhuru Highway and Ngong Road were also overrun by protesters, who engaged the police officers in running battles across the city centre.
However, Parliament Road survived the invasion by protesters as it was barricaded by layers of razor wire, out of an anticipation that it could have been attacked by the demonstrators.
Similar protection was seen near Processional Way and State House Road after the demonstrators threatened to invade the presidential residence.
Ruto appeals for peace
President William Ruto, however, had flown out of Nairobi to attend a burial ceremony of Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro’s father in Dabaso.
While at the function in the company of ODM Party leader Raila Odinga, Ruto appealed to the protesting youth not to burn the country in spite of the differences in ideologies.
“Even those with different opinions and even in protests, let us ensure that these protests are peaceful and not about destroying property or disturbing peace,” Ruto said.
“This is our country, and we have to protect its peace. We must operate within the law.”
The President warned against what he termed as hooliganism, looting, and destruction of property, cautioning that such acts betray the core purpose of protest and threaten national unity.
“Protests should not be to destroy peace in Kenya. We do not have another country to go to when things go wrong. It is our responsibility to keep our country safe,” he observed.
