Nairobi locked down as Kenya police clash with protesters, injuring 1

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Police in Kenya clashed with demonstrators Monday during anti-government protests as the authorities blocked major roads leading into the capital, Nairobi, and most businesses closed.

Protesters lit bonfires and hurled stones at police in roadblocks and police fired and hurled teargas canisters, injuring one demonstrator.

Associated Press journalists witnessed an injured person being carried by protesters who were chanting against police.

Kenyans had planned demonstrations on July 7 to protest police brutality, poor governance, and to demand President William Ruto’s resignation over alleged corruption and the high cost of living.

July 7 , known as Saba Saba, is a significant date in Kenya’s recent history, marking the first major protests 35 years ago that called for a transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy, which was realized in the 1992 elections. Saba Saba is Swahili for Seven Seven, representing July 7.

Police officers were stopping private and public vehicles from accessing the city center. They were also blocking most pedestrians from entering the capital, only allowing through those deemed to have essential duties.

“There is no reversing the Gen Z Saba Saba-like spirit,” said Macharia Munene, professor of history and international relations at United States International University Africa in Nairobi. “Attempt to criminalize protests is reactive and will not work. It instead makes the government appear retrogressive and desperate enough to subvert the constitution.”

Public Service Minister Geoffrey Ruku had urged all government employees to report to work on Monday, insisting that the demonstrations would not disrupt public services.

Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said on Sunday that the government would not tolerate violent protests and that police would be deployed to ensure public safety.

The roads leading to the country’s parliament and the president’s office were barricaded using razor wire.

In the outskirts of the city in Kitengela town, police fired tear gas Monday to disperse protesters who had lit bonfires on the road that connects to neighboring Tanzania.

“They have blocked the roads, blocking us from our work. I am a roadside vendor and I am supposed to get to town and buy merchandise to sell along the road," said protester Caleb Okoth. "What do they want us to eat? People are being beaten like dogs for protesting for their rights.”

The country has recently experienced a wave of violent demonstrations, initially sparked by calls for police accountability following the death of a blogger in police custody.

During protests on June 17, a civilian was shot at close range by police officers, further angering the public and prompting plans for additional demonstrations.

On June 25, at least 16 people were killed and more than 400 injured during protests against police brutality, which were timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of anti-tax protests where over 60 people lost their lives.

A protester covers a man, who the crowd claimed had been shot by police, with a Kenyan flag, during the historic 1990 Saba Saba, a Swahili word that means seven seven, protests for democratic reforms in the Kangemi slum of Nairobi, Kenya Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Riot police scatter protesters with water canons during the historic 1990 "Saba Saba" a Swahili word that means seven seven, protests for democratic reforms in the Kangemi slum of Nairobi, Kenya Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

A protester covers a man with Kenyan flag, who the crowd claimed had been shot by police, during the historic 1990 Saba Saba, a Swahili word that means seven seven, protests for democratic reforms in the Kangemi slum of Nairobi, Kenya Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Protester carry a man who the crowd claimed had been shot by police, during the historic 1990 Saba Saba, a Swahili word that means seven seven, protests for democratic reforms in the Kangemi slum of Nairobi, Kenya Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

A road to the city center is barricadeed ahead of the historic 1990 Saba Saba, a Swahili word that means seven seven, protests for democratic reforms in Nairobi, Kenya Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Kenya anti-riot police barricade roads to Parliament buildings with razor wire, ahead of the historic 1990 Saba Saba, a Swahili word that means seven seven, protests for democratic reforms in Nairobi, Kenya Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Kenya anti-riot police barricade roads to Parliament buildings with razor wire, ahead of the historic 1990 Saba Saba, a Swahili word that means seven seven, protests for democratic reforms in Nairobi, Kenya Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

A Ukrainian drone strike killed one person and wounded three others in the Russian city of Voronezh, local officials said Sunday.

A young woman died overnight in a hospital intensive care unit after debris from a drone fell on a house during the attack on Saturday, regional Gov. Alexander Gusev said on Telegram.

Three other people were wounded and more than 10 apartment buildings, private houses and a high school were damaged, he said, adding that air defenses shot down 17 drones over Voronezh. The city is home to just over 1 million people and lies some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The attack came the day after Russia bombarded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight into Friday, killing at least four people in the capital Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.

For only the second time in the nearly four-year war, Russia used a powerful new hypersonic missile that struck western Ukraine in a clear warning to Kyiv and NATO.

The intense barrage and the launch of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile followed reports of major progress in talks between Ukraine and its allies on how to defend the country from further aggression by Moscow if a U.S.-led peace deal is struck.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly address that Ukrainian negotiators “continue to communicate with the American side.”

Chief negotiator Rustem Umerov was in contact with U.S. partners Saturday, he said.

Separately, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia targeted Ukraine with 154 drones overnight into Sunday and 125 were shot down.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

This photo provided by the Ukrainian Security Service on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, shows a fragment believed to be a part of a Russian Oreshnik intermediate range hypersonic ballistic missile that hit the Lviv region. (Ukrainian Security Service via AP)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, second left, listens to British Defense Secretary John Healey during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)