Six Activists Deny Traffic Obstruction Charges Following Saba Saba Protests

Six civil rights activists arrested during Tuesday’s tense Saba Saba anniversary demonstrations in Nairobi have formally denied charges of intentionally disrupting public transport.

The six individuals—Michael Ngige, Julius Kamau, Dickson Muli, James Bota, Dennis Kimani, and Mulinge Muteti—appeared on Wednesday before Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai at the Milimani Law Courts. The defendants were charged with obstructing the operation of motor vehicles on a public road, a violation under Section 58(c) of the Kenya Roads Act (Chapter 408 of the Laws of Kenya). All six pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution alleged that the accused blocked key transit routes within Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) during the annual July 7 demonstrations. Historically, Saba Saba marks the 1990 pro-democracy uprisings that eventually led to the end of single-party rule in Kenya. This year, civil society groups organized processions to protest economic hardships, excessive force by security agencies, and enforced disappearances.

The defense team requested lenient bail terms, arguing that the activists were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly and procession. They emphasized that the accused had cooperated with law enforcement officers during and after their arrest.

Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud had previously warned that the protests were unauthorized, leading to a heavy security presence that left major CBD streets heavily barricaded. Police units deployed across the capital engaged in a tense standoff with demonstrators, leading to scattered arrests along Harambee Avenue and adjacent areas.

After reviewing the submissions, Magistrate Mutai ruled that the offenses were bailable. He released each of the six activists on a cash bail of Sh2,000. The court directed the prosecution to supply the defense team with all witness statements and documentary evidence ahead of the upcoming pre-trial hearing. The case is scheduled for further directions later this month.