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Kenya’s Anniversary Protests Turn Deadly With 16 Killed, Over 400 Injured

Resumption of live broadcasts has shone a spotlight on lethal crackdowns that killed 16 protesters and injured more than 400

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

Overview

  • Gen Z activists led nationwide marches on June 25 to mark last year’s anti-tax demonstrations, demanding justice for victims, police accountability and broader governance reforms
  • State House and Parliament in Nairobi were encircled with razor wire, roads blockaded and riot police backed by military support deployed across the capital and major towns
  • Rights groups report security forces used tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and live ammunition, killing 16 people, wounding over 400 and triggering looting and arson in multiple counties
  • The Communications Authority ordered NTV, KTN and other broadcasters off air to halt live coverage before a Nairobi court suspended the ban and restored transmissions
  • Domestic bodies including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the UN have urged prompt, independent investigations into alleged excessive use of force and longstanding impunity