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Nairobi, Kenya — June 26, 2025
Kenya descended into turmoil once again as mass anti-government protests erupted across major cities on Tuesday, June 25. Marking exactly one year since the bloody 2024 tax protests, this year’s demonstrations turned deadly with at least 8 people killed and over 400 others injured, according to a joint statement by medics and human rights lawyers.
Protesters flooded streets in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru, united by a common cry: “Ruto Must Go.” Anger boiled over against what many see as a government that has betrayed its promises, cracked down on dissent, and failed to tackle the rising cost of living.
This time, however, demonstrators came prepared not just with placards, but with symbolism. Thousands marched holding green branches—a powerful emblem of peaceful resistance—and the national flag. But by sundown, peace had collapsed into chaos, as riot police unleashed tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets into the crowds.
What Sparked the Protests?
The demonstrations weren’t random—they were strategically timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the 2024 anti-tax protests, which left over 60 people dead, mostly at the hands of security forces.
Back then, a proposed finance bill ignited what would become one of Kenya’s most defining youth-led uprisings in modern history. The bill was eventually withdrawn after intense public pressure, but the wounds remained. Many young Kenyans say little has changed.
This year’s protests were catalyzed further by the suspicious death of blogger and activist Albert Ojwang in police custody just days before the anniversary. Ojwang had become a vocal critic of President William Ruto’s administration and was believed to be compiling evidence of police brutality.
A Nationwide Uprising
What began as a peaceful march quickly escalated. In Nairobi, central roads were shut down, armored vehicles rolled in, and drone footage showed security forces kettling crowds into tight spaces before launching assaults.
In Mombasa, protestors set up roadblocks near the Likoni ferry and clashed with officers for hours. Kisumu’s central business district was nearly paralyzed, and in Eldoret—a known Ruto stronghold—residents surprised many by joining the calls for his resignation.
By late evening, at least eight people were confirmed dead, with some organizations—like Amnesty Kenya—reporting as many as 16 fatalities. Hundreds more were rushed to hospitals, some with gunshot wounds, others with injuries from stampedes or tear gas inhalation.
Media Blackout and the High Court’s Defiance
In a move that drew widespread condemnation, Kenya’s Communications Authority ordered a suspension of live TV and radio coverage, claiming it was necessary to maintain “national stability.”
However, broadcasters such as Citizen TV and KTN defied the directive, citing press freedom and public interest. The backlash was swift. Legal petitions were filed, and within hours, the High Court in Nairobi suspended the government ban, calling it likely unconstitutional and ordering full restoration of disrupted signals.
The judicial intervention was celebrated as a rare victory for democratic freedoms amid an increasingly tense political climate.
The President Responds
Speaking from Uasin Gishu County, President William Ruto defended the police response and criticized protest leaders, stating:
“Every Kenyan has a right to be heard, but protests should not be about destroying peace in our country. We must safeguard our future.”
But for many Kenyans, especially youth, those words rang hollow.
Protesters Say the Struggle Isn’t Over
For the thousands who took to the streets, the message was clear: the demonstrations were not a one-off, but a continued movement against injustice, rising living costs, police brutality, and political betrayal.
A 24-year-old student from Nairobi, wrapped in a Kenyan flag and carrying a branch, said:
“They promised us jobs. They gave us tear gas. They promised a new dawn. We got darkness instead.”
Many protesters referenced not just the economic pain they’re enduring—marked by joblessness and inflation—but also the deep sense of betrayal they feel from a government that had branded itself as pro-youth.
A Nation at a Crossroads
What happened on June 25, 2025, was not an isolated event. It was the latest chapter in a growing resistance movement in Kenya—a country grappling with rising inequality, youth unemployment, and mistrust in state institutions.
The image of thousands of young people holding green branches as police fired tear gas at them will linger in the national consciousness.
Whether this was the climax of a frustrated generation or the beginning of a broader political shift remains to be seen. But what’s clear is this: the youth are awake, organized, and no longer afraid to speak truth to power.