Thousands of commuters in Nairobi’s Central Business District experienced disruptions on Thursday morning as two separate groups staged demonstrations to press for their respective demands.
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers took to the streets to demand permanent and pensionable employment terms, while victims of past anti-government protests marched to Nairobi Central Police Station to notify authorities of a planned memorial procession later this month.
The UHC workers called on the Ministry of Health to formally absorb them into the public service and compensate them for six years of service under the programme.
The health workers argued that despite serving in public health facilities for years, many remain on contractual terms without job security or retirement benefits.
“We have served Kenyans diligently for six years, but we still lack permanent employment and pension benefits. The government must honour its commitment and absorb us into permanent and pensionable terms,” said one of the demonstrators.
The workers also demanded payment of gratuity, saying prolonged uncertainty had left many facing financial difficulties.
Meanwhile, a separate procession led by victims of previous anti-government demonstrations made its way to Nairobi Central Police Station, where they submitted a formal notification seeking permission to hold a peaceful march on June 25, 2026.
The group was accompanied by Siaya Governor James Orengo and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, who later held consultations with Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga.
According to the organisers, the planned procession will commemorate individuals who lost their lives during the June 2024 anti-government protests.
“We are here to formally notify the police of our intention to hold a peaceful procession in memory of those who lost their lives during last year’s demonstrations,” one of the organisers said.
The leaders emphasized that the planned event would be conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law.
“This commemoration is intended to honour the victims and their families. We remain committed to ensuring that the procession is peaceful and orderly,” they stated.
The demonstrations attracted significant attention in the city centre as participants carried placards and chanted slogans while calling on authorities to address their concerns.
Police monitored both events as the groups carried out their activities without major incidents.
The planned June 25 procession is expected to draw participants from across the country as families, activists and civil society groups remember those who died during the 2024 protests.
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