Kenya and Tanzania deployed heavy police and military forces on Tuesday to prevent planned Saba Saba demonstrations, reflecting an increasingly hardline approach toward public protests in both East African countries.

The heightened security measures follow two years of recurring anti-government demonstrations that have been met with force. Human rights organizations have accused authorities in both countries of using excessive force to suppress dissent, resulting in significant casualties and widespread arrests.

In Tanzania, opposition groups and rights advocates allege that thousands of people were killed during unrest surrounding the October 2025 elections, amid claims of electoral fraud and a broader crackdown on government critics.

In Kenya, a police oversight body says at least 127 people were killed during protests over the cost of living, corruption, and alleged police brutality between June and July in both 2024 and 2025.

The demonstrations were scheduled for July 7, known as Saba Saba (“Seven Seven”), a date that commemorates historic pro-democracy protests in both countries.

However, the large-scale deployment of security forces effectively prevented major gatherings. Tanzania has banned political assemblies, while Kenyan police declined to authorize protest notifications submitted by civil society organizations.

Security personnel were stationed across major cities, including Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, with roads blocked and business activity disrupted in several areas.

In Dar es Salaam, many shops in the commercial district of Kariakoo remained closed as residents stayed away amid fears of violence.

Many citizens said fear of arrest or death discouraged them from participating. Several residents told AFP they believed the risks of protesting outweighed the potential benefits, citing the deadly crackdowns seen in previous demonstrations.

In Nairobi, police quickly dispersed small groups that attempted to gather in the city center, detaining several individuals. Protesters argued that peaceful assembly is a constitutional right and questioned the scale of the security deployment.

Civil society groups had planned to use the demonstrations to highlight concerns over alleged extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, police brutality, worsening economic conditions, and limited opportunities for young people.

However, activists acknowledged that fear and public fatigue had significantly reduced participation.

The latest developments come as President William Ruto’s administration faces growing criticism over its handling of dissent. Separately, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) recently called for an investigation after a senior journalist from The Standard reportedly escaped an attempted abduction by armed men days after President Ruto publicly criticized the newspaper’s coverage.