Kenya’s Grief Repeats One Year After Bloody Anti-tax Protests

One year following the storming of Kenya’s parliament by hundreds of demonstrators protesting against rising taxes and a deepening economic crisis, Nairobi finds itself once again in mourning for its youth. What was intended to be a solemn anniversary protest on June 25, 2025, to commemorate the over 60 protesters who lost their lives last year, devolved into chaos and additional violence.

According to Irungu Houghton, the Director for Kenya’s Amnesty International, the recent demonstrations resulted in at least 16 fatalities. Moreover, a coalition of human rights organizations, including the Kenya Medical Association, the Law Society of Kenya, and the Police Reforms Working Group, reported 400 injuries, with 83 classified as serious, including eight gunshot wounds.

The aftermath of the protests is evident in the numerous burned-out buildings, looted shops, and damaged public spaces that populate downtown Nairobi, serving as a stark reminder of both the 2024 and 2025 protest activities.

During a burial ceremony in Kilifi, a coastal community of Kenya marked distant from the sites of the protests, President William Ruto who is the focus of the protests, stated, “Protests should not destroy peace in Kenya. We do not have another country to go to when circumstances go awry.” However, the reality on the ground presented a contrasting narrative.

Numerous shops selling electronics, perfumes, and clothing were left in ruins. The atmosphere, heavy with smoke, bore the scents of both tear gas and public discontent. Many protesters carried branches as a symbol of peaceful resistance, while others laid wreaths at the gates of parliament in remembrance of those who had perished the prior year.

The anniversary demonstration was designed to serve as a solemn remembrance of June 2024, a day when at least 60 protesters were killed after breaching parliament in response to a controversial tax bill. This incident marked the apex of public outrage in a nation where economic promises have largely remained unfulfilled since President Ruto assumed office in 2022.

Although the demonstrations commenced peacefully, the commemoration event of 2025 quickly escalated into violence. As young men clashed with security forces, hurled ripped-up flagstones, and set fires, business owners indicated that the situation deteriorated after the government mandated that television and radio stations cease live coverage—a directive that was later overturned by the High Court.

Reports from AFP noted that violence and looting intensified once live broadcasts ceased. “AFP observed stores reduced to ashes or ransacked by looters,” the report stated.

Barriers, Violence, and Erosion of Trust

In Nairobi, security forces employed barricades of razor wire to prevent protesters from accessing State House and parliament, mirroring the tense strategies employed during the previous year. Additionally, emergency responders reported multiple incidents of gunshot wounds, and local media shared unverified reports of police firing upon protesters, particularly outside the capital.

The current protests gained momentum following the reported death of a teacher in police custody earlier in the month, further inciting public outrage regarding issues of brutality and impunity.

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