Several people have been arrested in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) during protests against high fuel prices and the rising cost of living.
The demonstrations, held on Monday, saw protesters confront police officers who were attempting to disperse them, leaving parts of the city centre tense for much of the day.
Some traders were forced to close their businesses as the protests unfolded, disrupting normal activities in sections of the CBD.
The demonstrators, including activists and members of the public, marched through different parts of the city centre carrying placards and chanting slogans criticising the government over the cost of living.
They called on the government to take urgent measures to reduce fuel prices and ease the financial pressure facing households already struggling with the rising cost of essential goods and services.
The protesters argued that high fuel prices have a wider impact on everyday life, particularly through increased transport fares and the cost of goods used by households. Fuel costs also affect businesses, with transport and distribution expenses contributing to the prices consumers pay for various products.
The demonstrations reflect continuing public concern over the affordability of basic needs, as households contend with expenses linked to transport, food and other essential services.
Tensions rose as police moved to disperse the crowds, with some demonstrators engaging officers during the operation. The arrests followed the confrontation, although the exact number of people detained and the specific charges they may face were not immediately provided in the information available.
The protests also affected business operations, with some traders shutting their shops amid concerns over the situation in the city centre.
Meanwhile, rescue operations at the site of a collapsed building in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area entered their fourth day on Monday, as emergency teams continued searching for people believed to remain trapped beneath the rubble.
Rescuers were still working to locate those who had not been accounted for following the collapse, with efforts focused on reaching possible survivors beneath the debris.
The ongoing search has added to the emergency response workload in the capital, as teams continue with efforts to establish whether anyone remains trapped inside the collapsed structure.
The protests over fuel prices and the cost of living, alongside the continuing rescue operation in Eastleigh, marked two major developments in Nairobi on Monday. While demonstrators pressed for government action to ease the cost of essential goods and services, emergency teams continued their search at the building collapse site.
