NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 25 – Police on Thursday deployed what appeared to be sonic cannons to order demonstrators off the streets ob Nairobi CBD amid a standoff over how long the June 25 anniversary protests could continue.

The sound sytem fitted on a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Armored Personnel Carrier moved through key sections of the CBD, including University Way, broadcasting repeated instructions directing protesters to leave the city centre and return home.

Police said they were acting on the basis of protest notifications indicating that planned processions and commemorative activities would conclude by 1pm.

The directive was, however, rejected by protesters, who argued that the Public Order Act permits demonstrations until 6pm and insisted they would remain in the streets.

The confrontation marked a shift in what had largely been a subdued day of remembrance marking the second anniversary of the June 25, 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.

Besides the loudspeaker system, the armoured vehicle was fitted with an acoustic device that emitted piercing tones as it moved through the CBD.

The sounds caused visible discomfort among protesters, journalists and bystanders, many of whom covered their ears as the vehicle passed through gathering points.

The deployment came hours after Inspector General Douglas Kanja defended the extensive security operation across Nairobi, describing road closures, barricades and heightened police presence as part of an “intelligence-led policing” strategy designed to prevent criminal elements from infiltrating the demonstrations.

For much of the morning, Nairobi’s CBD remained unusually deserted. Major roads were largely empty, many businesses stayed closed and public transport access into the city centre was severely restricted due to security measures.

A spot check across the CBD indicated that commemorative activities remained largely peaceful until midday, when police fired teargas to disperse a group of activists marching towards Central Police Station.

Several journalists covering the procession were also caught up in the operation after officers lobbed teargas canisters in their direction. Officers at the scene accused members of the media of encouraging protesters to follow them toward the station.

Despite the confrontations, large sections of the city centre remained sparsely populated, with only small groups of demonstrators gathering at various locations.

Security around Parliament Buildings remained particularly tight, with multiple layers of barricades, razor wire and heavily armed officers controlling access to the precincts. Movement in the area was restricted, with only authorised persons permitted through security checkpoints.

Earlier in the day, opposition leaders, civil society activists and relatives of victims of the 2024 protests laid wreaths near Parliament in memory of those killed during last year’s demonstrations.

The June 25 anniversary has drawn nationwide attention as Kenyans reflect on the protests that culminated in demonstrators breaching Parliament and sparked a wider national debate on governance, accountability and youth participation in public affairs.