Overview

• Demonstrators plan nationwide marches and candlelit vigils on June 25 to honour those killed and disappeared during last year’s protests
• Security forces killed at least 60 people in 2024 demonstrations and rights groups report more than 80 ongoing disappearances of government critics
• Recent incidents—including the custodial death of teacher Albert Ojwang and the shooting of vendor Boniface Kariuki—have intensified fears ahead of anniversary events
• Western embassies and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops have urged calm and endorsed the right to peaceful assembly
• President William Ruto has pledged full backing for security forces even as activists accuse the government of deploying hired goons to break up protests