(KARATINA) – Protests erupted early on Monday, 7 July 2025, in Karatina town, Nyeri County, disrupting transport and trade along the Great North Road, a key corridor linking Nairobi to northern Kenya and onwards to South Sudan.
By 7am, Karatina had come to a standstill. Businesses, including banks, were closed, and all public transport in and out of the town was paralysed. Youths barricaded the Karatina–Nairobi highway, part of the vital trade route that connects Nairobi to towns like Nanyuki and extends to the South Sudan border.
In Karatina, tensions escalated as a kiosk was set on fire and protesters attempted to break into a supermarket. Demonstrations started around 7.30am with groups lighting bonfires, blowing whistles, and chanting political slogans like “one term”.
Initially, the situation remained calm. However, by 9.30am, anti-riot police moved in to clear the highway. The demonstrators responded with stones, leading to clashes between police and the youth in running street battles.
In nearby Nyeri town, businesses shut early due to growing tensions and a visible police presence. The first clash occurred around 11am when youths tried to enter the town’s CBD, prompting officers to disperse them with teargas.
By midday, confrontations were still ongoing in Karatina, while Nyeri experienced a temporary calm. Police continued to hold positions across several locations.
Similar protests broke out in other counties along key East African trade routes. In Embu and Ngurubani towns in Kirinyaga County, demonstrators blocked the Embu–Makutano road using bonfires. This led to long traffic delays and disruption of commerce in the region. In Embu, business activity halted as shop owners closed in fear of looting.
When police arrived and ordered the crowds to disperse, the protesters resisted, leading to confrontations. Stones were thrown, and the police responded with force. Eventually, the demonstrators were overpowered and scattered.
In Murang’a County, hundreds of youths blocked the Sagana border with Kirinyaga. At least five illegal roadblocks were reported, where protesters charged motorists to pass. This led to the isolation of Murang’a, Embu, and Kirinyaga counties from each other, disrupting movement across the regional road network.
In Maua town, Meru County, protesters also set up bonfires and blocked roads using stones. Police in the area remained on high alert throughout the day.
The affected highways form part of the broader Northern Corridor infrastructure used to move goods from Kenya’s Mombasa Port through Nairobi, Nanyuki and onward to the South Sudan border via Lokichoggio. The disruption in towns like Karatina and Embu caused delays to cross-border transport and trade, with concerns raised by South Sudanese traders who rely on these routes for imports.
| Location | Incident Summary | Impact on Trade/Transport |
|---|---|---|
| Karatina, Nyeri | Bonfires, attempted looting, highway barricades | Northern Corridor blocked |
| Nyeri town | Teargas clashes in CBD, shops closed | Local economy disrupted |
| Embu, Kirinyaga | Roadblocks, business closures, police confrontations | Key link to Nairobi obstructed |
| Murang’a (Sagana) | Youths erect toll roadblocks | Counties isolated from trade routes |
| Maua, Meru | Fires and barricades on roads | Interior access to cross-border routes hit |
The Saba Saba Day, historically observed for political activism and democratic reforms in Kenya, has increasingly become a flashpoint for protests. This year’s demonstrations, largely led by youth groups, focused on demands for good governance and social justice.
The ripple effect of these protests across counties connected to the South Sudan supply chain has raised concerns over the stability of trade flows between the two countries.
