NAIROBI, Kenya — Amidst nationwide demonstrations led by Gen Z on Wednesday morning, an extraordinary sight unfolded on the Thika Superhighway: a group of Gen Z protesters engaging in an impromptu football match.
In a video circulating widely, the participants were captured joyfully kicking a ball, with other demonstrators and bystanders observing from the sidelines.
This unexpected football game took place near Githurai, an area known to be a hotspot for protest activity, where transport operations were effectively brought to a standstill.
Nearby, boda boda riders, identifiable by their reflective jackets, were seen cautiously watching the unfolding scene.
Concurrently, plumes of thick smoke billowed into the sky from bonfires lit by unidentified individuals along the highway.
Police officers were deployed in the vicinity to maintain order. While closely monitoring the crowds, law enforcement allowed these largely peaceful activities to continue.
These demonstrations are widely understood as a commemoration of one year since the significant anti-Finance Bill protests of 2024, which saw widespread youth participation.
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The protests have spread across multiple counties, indicating a broad continuation of the movement’s momentum.
Meanwhile, the situation escalated in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), where protests gained significant traction.
Police resorted to lobbing tear gas at demonstrators who had begun to gather in the city center.
Access to the CBD for vehicles was largely restricted, compelling many Kenyans to proceed on foot into the city.
