National News
Tribeless, or Not? Questions Emerge Over Who Is Protesting in Kenya
Businesses were closed and the CBD barricaded, but protests raged in Central Kenya. As the ‘tribeless’ movement spreads, questions mount about who’s really demonstrating — and why.
Across the country, businesses remained closed on Monday as fear and uncertainty gripped many towns.
From the outskirts of Nairobi to the heart of Central Kenya, the usual rhythm of commerce and daily life came to a halt — doors shut, markets deserted, and streets eerily quiet.
In the capital, the Nairobi Central Business District was transformed into a fortress. Police barricades sealed off major roads. Heavily armed anti-riot officers patrolled street corners.
Public transport was diverted, and businesses in the city centre dared not open. For many residents, the CBD was simply a no-go zone.
But while Nairobi was effectively immobilized by security forces, the energy of protest ignited elsewhere — most notably in Central Kenya.
They say they are tribeless, genderless, and partyless — united by shared frustration rather than ethnic or political identity.
“This is not a Kikuyu protest. This is a Kenyan protest,” said Wanjiku Kamau, marching in Kerugoya. “We are tired of corruption, high taxes, and arrogant leaders.”
But as the protests stretch into a second week, a harder question is being asked: if this movement is tribeless, why does it appear so regional?
A closer look reveals that most demonstrations are concentrated in the Mt. Kenya region — with other areas of the country remaining largely silent.
“When you examine the geography of these protests, they are not truly national,” said political analyst Samuel Wekesa. “Nyanza is quiet. Western is quiet. Coast, North Eastern, Rift Valley — also quiet. The anger is concentrated in Central.”
In Eastleigh, a bustling business district, shops stayed closed — not in protest, but out of caution.
“We closed for safety, not politics,” said Mohamed Abdiaziz, a resident. “We understand the frustrations, but we don’t yet see ourselves in this movement.”
In many of Nairobi’s low-income neighborhoods, the police presence was heavy, but protests were minimal. Barricades and bulletproof vests were more common than placards or chants.
As the anti-government movement gains momentum, both online and in select regions, the big question remains: is this a broad-based people’s revolution, or the roar of a wounded region trying to reclaim its influence in national politics?
