Kenya’s Government Cracks Down on Legitimate Protests with Heavy Police Blockades

As Kenyans prepare to exercise their democratic right to protest on July 7, the government of President William Ruto has responded not with dialogue but with an iron fist. Authorities have blocked major access routes to Nairobi, the country’s capital, deploying police officers to stop both vehicles and pedestrians from entering areas designated for peaceful demonstrations.This heavy-handed approach shows a disturbing disregard for citizens’ constitutional freedoms in favor of preserving political power. Businesses remain shuttered, and razor wire barricades surround key institutions such as parliament and the president's office—a stark reminder that dissent is met with repression rather than respect.The...