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yesterday

12 Dead, Over 400 Injured as Gen Z Protests Escalate in Kenya

A court decision restored live coverage after authorities tried to silence reporting on the demonstrations

People walk past debris of broken retail electronics following demonstrations to mark the first anniversary of the deadly 2024 anti-government protests that drew widespread condemnation over the use of force by security agencies, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya June 26, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
People salvage steel from buildings torched during demonstrations to mark the first anniversary of the deadly 2024 anti-government protests that drew widespread condemnation over the use of force by security agencies, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya June 26, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
A man salvages steel from an agrovet store torched during demonstrations to mark the first anniversary of the deadly 2024 anti-government protests that drew widespread condemnation over the use of force by security agencies, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya June 26, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
A trader stands inside his business premise, burnt during demonstrations to mark the first anniversary of the deadly 2024 anti-government protests that drew widespread condemnation over the use of force by security agencies, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya June 26, 2025. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi

Overview

  • At least 12 people were killed and more than 400 others wounded on June 25 as Gen Z-led protests marking the anti-Finance Bill anniversary turned nationwide and violent.
  • Police opened fire with live ammunition and rubber bullets in Nairobi, Molo, Kikuyu and multiple towns, causing numerous casualties among protesters, officers and bystanders.
  • The Communications Authority ordered major TV and radio stations off-air to block live coverage but the High Court swiftly suspended the directive after a legal challenge.
  • Demonstrators are pressing for justice over past and recent killings, demanding police accountability and broader economic and governance reforms under President William Ruto.
  • Human rights and civil society groups provided legal aid and documented instances of excessive force, alongside credible reports of criminal elements infiltrating some demonstrations.