Eastleigh Traders Serve Free Food and Water to Police Amid Saba Saba Protests

 

By Sysvoline Atieno

In a heartwarming display of solidarity, traders from Nairobi’s Eastleigh area offered free food and water to police officers stationed there during the Saba Saba protests on Monday, July 7. The gesture, organized by the Eastleigh Business District Association (EBDA), provided much-needed relief to officers braving a tense day of national demonstrations.

A video that quickly went viral showed uniformed officers, some seated inside police vehicles, eating from neatly packed takeaway containers. Laughter and casual chatter filled the air—a rare moment of calm during a day anticipated to be chaotic.

“This is from the Eastleigh traders,” one officer was heard saying in the video. “They brought us food and water to support us as we continue with our duties. We really appreciate the gesture.”

Police had been deployed early morning in Eastleigh as part of a broader operation to maintain order during the youth-led Saba Saba protests. Key roads into the commercial hub were blocked off, with officers in full riot gear manning multiple checkpoints, conducting spot-checks, and monitoring pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

Despite the heavy security presence, Eastleigh remained mostly peaceful throughout the day. A stretch of road was briefly blocked using tyres, with thick smoke seen in the distance, possibly from a small bonfire. However, no major disruptions were reported within the area.

“It’s not just about business. We know these officers are also Kenyans. They left their families early to come here. Giving them lunch is the least we could do,” said Ali Noor, a trader and EBDA member.

While Eastleigh maintained calm, nearby areas such as Jogoo Road and Thika Road witnessed intense protests. Live footage on TikTok showed protesters lighting fires and blocking highways, forcing police to respond with tear gas to disperse crowds.

On Thika Road, officers set up barricades to prevent demonstrators from accessing the city center. Despite the barricades, large crowds gathered at Githurai and Roysambu, chanting and demanding government reforms.

The peaceful cooperation in Eastleigh contrasted sharply with unrest elsewhere, drawing praise from many who saw the traders’ gesture as a bridge between security forces and civilians during a sensitive national moment.

“This is the Kenya we want,” said a local resident. “Even when there is tension, we can still choose peace and unity over violence.”