Kenyans who use the Parliament Road will have to find alternative routes after police blocked the road ahead of President William Ruto's visit to Parliament.
What began as high-security surveillance on Wednesday morning escalated into a road blockage as hours to the anticipated State of the Nation address by President William Ruto.
Apart from Parliament Road, police have also occupied parts of Uhuru Highway, City Hall Way, and Harambee Avenue. Anti-riot police officers have also been spotted patrolling the CBD along Kimathi Street.
According to a communication by the National Assembly, the President is expected to address the nation from 2:30pm over the state of the nation. Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, said it will be held at the National Assembly, with members from both Houses attending.
In the morning, business around the road went on as usual, however, there was heavy police surveillance. The police have now blocked the road, except for VIP cars belonging to legislators and other authorities allowed around the premises.
Private and public vehicles have been prohibited from using Parliament Road even as police lorries and vans are stationed at different positions.
The high surveillance follows anticipation of anti-Ruto protests after some activists expressed intentions to hold public demonstrations to voice their displeasure with President Ruto's administration on the same day as the State of the Nation Address.
According to posters making the rounds on social media, the protests dubbed 'The Final Revolution', are set to take place around Parliament. The protestors intend to occupy key institutions across the country, including Parliament, the venue for the State of the Nation Address.
The development comes a day after the National Police Service cautioned the public against staging or taking part in any protests.
Police Spokesperson Resila Onyango revealed that the protests were illegal as they had not been given prior notice of such an event.
“Anticipate a significant police presence in and around Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) and key routes leading to Parliament. This deployment aims to maintain order and ensure public safety during the protest,” the advisory by the police read in part.
The State of the Nation address is an obligation of the Constitution that requires the president to update Parliament on three key issues, among them national security.
