Tensions escalated outside Parliament on Thursday after a group of angry mothers protesting the alleged abduction of youths from Nairobi’s Huruma and Mathare estates blocked vehicles from accessing the Parliamentary precincts.
The demonstrators, many dressed in black and carrying placards bearing photographs of their missing sons, demanded immediate action from the government to account for the whereabouts of the young men.
The protest temporarily disrupted traffic along roads leading to Parliament as the women formed a human barricade, chanting slogans and singing emotional songs calling for justice. They accused security agencies of failing to investigate the disappearances and urged Members of Parliament to intervene instead of remaining silent on the matter.
“We will not move until someone listens to us,” one of the mothers declared, insisting that their children disappeared under suspicious circumstances and that their families deserve answers. The protesters maintained that they had exhausted all legal avenues, including reporting the incidents to police stations, without receiving satisfactory responses.
Security officers were deployed to the area to manage the growing crowd and redirect vehicles seeking entry into Parliament. Although the demonstration caused significant delays, it remained largely peaceful, with protesters emphasizing that their mission was to draw national attention to the plight of affected families rather than cause destruction.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly called for transparent investigations into reported cases of enforced disappearances and unlawful detentions, arguing that accountability is essential to restore public confidence in the justice system.
The latest protest adds pressure on lawmakers, who are expected to address growing public concerns over security operations and the protection of constitutional rights.