Kenya’s Capital Secured Ahead of Planned Protest

On Thursday, authorities locked down Nairobi, halting traffic on major roads and positioning police to prevent an annual demonstration that has become a focal point of opposition to President William Ruto.

June 25th has emerged as a critical date in Kenya’s political timeline, following the tragic events of two years earlier when security forces killed dozens during a protest against a fiscal bill that would have increased taxes.

Fears of civil unrest and potential police violence prompted the closure of most shops, businesses, and schools, transforming the city’s usual hustle into a subdued quiet. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen had issued a warning a day earlier, stating that any looters or criminal activity would be met with the full extent of the law.

At the modest gathering on Thursday, a handful of demonstrators arrived by midday to lay wreaths at Parliament in memory of those who died at previous protests. Witnesses reported they were vastly outnumbered by police.

“Across the country, people were expected to march, but the president has closed the country,” said Boniface Mwangi, a protest organizer. Nairobi’s police chief, Issa Mohamud, explained to journalists that the roadblocks were intended to protect the city from criminal elements.

Security forces blocked the marchers, including potential presidential candidate Kalonzo Musyoka, from entering Parliament grounds. Instead, the protesters placed wreaths on the razor wire surrounding the compound.

The demonstration commemorated the more than 60 people who were killed by security forces during large-scale protests two years ago, events that marked a turning point for Ruto’s administration.

These protests, partially organized by the loosely formed Gen Z movement, were sparked by opposition to a tax‑raising proposal in a country where many citizens face significant financial hardship. The marches also reflected broader economic frustration, political disillusionment, and anger at heavy police tactics.

Following the protests, the government withdrew the finance bill, yet dozens were still killed during commemorative demonstrations last year. While acknowledging the deaths, authorities disputed the casualty figures and defended police actions as self‑defense.

The unrest underscored the rising influence of young people as a political force in Kenya and demonstrated how social media can galvanize movements, enabling organizers to mobilize crowds rapidly and amplify messages through memes and videos.

Gen Z‑led protests have also surged across Africa, influencing political changes in Morocco and Madagascar, and echoing broader youth-led mobilizations that have reached as far as Nepal and Peru.

This year’s protests were smaller than in previous years, but they come ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. Ruto, who won his first term in 2022, is seeking re‑election for a second and final term as the opposition remains undecided on a candidate.

Several Nairobi residents reported feeling deterred from participating in the demonstration due to fears of police violence and the presence of informal armed gangs, often referred to as “goons,” who some claim are paid by politicians to disrupt opposition rallies.

Later, Interior Minister Murkomen told journalists that 355 people had been arrested nationwide during protests, including 161 in the capital. He did not disclose any casualty figures. Police reportedly used tear gas to separate a small group of protesters from the central police station, according to witnesses.

In an effort to address protest‑related casualties, the government announced a compensation fund of 2 billion Kenyan shillings (approximately $15 million) for civilians and security personnel killed or harmed in protests since 2017.

Some victims welcomed the fund, though they argued it could not replace accountability.

Gillian Munyao, mother of Rex Masai—who became a national symbol as the first protester killed in the 2024 demonstrations—joined other mothers to lay a wreath near Parliament. She carried a placard that read: “Compensation cannot replace accountability. Arrest killer cops.”

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