NAIROBI, Kenya — Recent protests in Kenya have turned tragic, with at least eight fatalities and over 80 people requiring specialized medical care, some with gunshot wounds, as reported by human rights organizations. These nationwide demonstrations, primarily against police brutality and government mismanagement, resulted in more than 400 injuries and over 60 arrests across 23 of Kenya’s 47 counties.
The protests were planned to commemorate the one-year anniversary of anti-tax demonstrations from the previous year, during which 60 people were killed and 20 still remain unaccounted for. In Nairobi, the nation’s capital, parliamentary buildings and the president’s office were heavily barricaded with razor wire, as access routes were blockaded by law enforcement. Clashes ensued between thousands of protesters and police, who responded with tear gas, baton charges, and live rounds, injuring several individuals.
Demonstrations expanded into major urban centers such as Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Nyahururu, evolving into calls for the resignation of the president over allegations of poor governance. Last year’s protests saw demonstrators storming the Parliament premises, leading to arson and necessitating military intervention. These events were marked by police firing on civilians and left in the streets.
The younger generation remains disillusioned with the current administration, citing issues of corruption, escalated living expenses, police aggression, and the recent custodial death of a blogger that have fueled public outrage. An incident involving a civilian shot at close range during protests has further intensified public discontent.
In response to these developments, President William Ruto has appealed for calm, urging citizens to safeguard their nation. “We do not have another country to go to when things go wrong,” he stated while attending a ceremony on Kenya’s coast, even as protesters converged on his office in Nairobi.
Motivated by last year’s deaths, Kenyan youth have mobilized through social media to organize these protests. Despite government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura’s assurance that Wednesday would be a “normal working day,” many Nairobi businesses shuttered in anticipation, and police restricted vehicular movement into the city center.
As dawn broke, hundreds of Kenyans hit the streets, chanting anti-government slogans as police lobbed tear gas. An observer saw a demonstrator sustain a mouth injury from police fire, while another was struck on the head by riot officers and subsequently received medical aid.
Wangechi Kahuria, leading the Independent Medico-Legal Unit, an NGO monitoring protest-related deaths, emphasized the right of Kenyans to mourn and return home peacefully. Meanwhile, Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja reinforced restrictions on unauthorized access to key areas such as Parliament and the statehouse.
Protesters like Rose Murugi have called out law enforcement for contributing to the problem. “Police brutality must end,” she declared emphatically, also urging the president to step down. Derrick Mwangi, a 25-year-old protester, echoed the sentiment, expressing frustration over escalating abductions and killings.
The media has been active, with local outlets publishing names and images of last year’s victims. The Standard, a prominent newspaper, headlined “A luta Continua,” invoking a historical slogan of the Mozambican independence struggle.
However, the Communication Authority’s decision to ban live protest coverage and disable certain television channels has elicited condemnation from human rights advocates. Political commentator Herman Manyora described the protesters as “heroes” for their sacrifices, advocating for joint commemorative efforts between demonstrators and authorities.
Manyora cautioned that the protesters’ dissatisfaction stems from governmental rigidity, which has only strengthened their resolve to persist in their efforts. Following last year’s discontent, President Ruto dissolved an underperforming and corrupt Cabinet but retained most ministers in his new appointments. Although a contentious finance bill raising taxes was initially retracted, subsequent legislative amendments reintroduced higher taxes later in the year.
Moreover, President Ruto has made moves to integrate opposition members into the Cabinet, signing a political pact with his electoral opponent, Raila Odinga, earlier this year in a bid to stabilize the political climate.