Police seal off key roads in Nairobi as Kenya braces for Gen Z protests

Early on Thursday, police mounted roadblocks along the Thika Super Highway, Mombasa Road, the Nairobi-namanga-highway" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="152431" data-entity-type="location">Nairobi-Namanga Highway in Athi River, Kenyatta Avenue, Waiyaki Way, Jogoo Road, and other major routes, preventing motorists and pedestrians from accessing the city centre.Authorities have urged protesters to remain peaceful and avoid acts of violence, looting, or destruction of property.ReutersSecurity agencies have heightened surveillance in major urban centresPresident William Ruto on Friday said people had a right to protest but warned that anyone "mobilised to destroy property or cause chaos" would not be tolerated.Several political leaders, civil society groups, and human rights organisations have expressed support for peaceful demonstrations, describing them as part of democratic expression protected under the country's onstitution.Ruto's former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, now a bitter rival, has urged Gen Z activists to stay away from the streets, citing concerns that the protests could turn violent. Instead, he has called on Kenyans to remain at home in a symbolic show of dissent.Last week, President Ruto announced a fund of nearly $15m (£11m) to compensate nearly 2,000 victims of protest-related human rights abuses between 2017 and 2025 identified by rights groups.Ruto said the compensation was not a "price for life, pain or loss" and should not be seen as rewarding violence or criminality.