Kenya Marks Protest Anniversary with Mass Marches

Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets on June 25 to mark the anniversary of last year’s anti-government demonstrations that peaked with the storming of Parliament. The 2023 protests, sparked by tax hikes and rising economic hardship, saw at least 60 people killed by security forces, according to human rights groups.
This year’s commemorations were called by activists and victims’ families, urging peaceful reflection. Protesters in Nairobi carried Kenyan flags, roses, and images of those killed, chanting slogans like “Ruto must go.” However, some radical voices online rallied for an “occupation of State House,” fueling unease and prompting a visible police response.
Authorities blocked major routes leading to Nairobi’s central business district and barricaded government buildings with razor wire. Though initial marches were peaceful, clashes later erupted in parts of the capital — with police firing tear gas at stone-throwing demonstrators. Protests also spread to Mombasa and other counties.
The political temperature has risen in recent weeks amid growing frustration over alleged police brutality, intensified by the death of a teacher in custody earlier this month. Schools and businesses were shuttered in anticipation of potential unrest.
While the government has pledged to maintain order, critics argue it continues to suppress dissent through intimidation and excessive force — issues that remain unresolved a year after the deadly crackdown.