Police in Kenya have sealed off key roads leading into central Nairobi ahead of planned nationwide protests marking two years since the deadly Gen-Z-led anti-government demonstrations.
Protesters say they are demanding justice for more than 80 people killed and dozens more injured during the 2024 anti-tax demonstrations and last year’s anniversary protests.
There have been pockets of clashes between police and protesters, with security forces firing tear gas and demonstrators throwing stones in some areas.
Central Nairobi, however, was largely deserted after security forces blocked access, stranding commuters on the city’s outskirts, while many businesses and schools remained closed.
The planned protests, largely mobilised through social media platforms, are expected to take place in major towns including Nairobi, Mombasa, and parts of central Kenya.
In Nairobi, opposition leaders led by Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, and Eugene Wamalwa joined families of victims in a march to Parliament, where they laid wreaths in honour of those who died during the 2024 demonstrations.
In June 2024, tens of thousands of Kenyans protested against proposed tax hikes, culminating in the storming of Parliament and the eventual withdrawal of the controversial Finance Bill.
Security forces were later accused of using excessive force, with a BBC investigation finding that police had deliberately targeted protesters.
In the days that followed, dozens of people were reportedly abducted, allegedly by members of the security forces. Some were later found badly beaten, while others were found dead, fuelling concerns over enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
On Thursday, police officers on horseback dispersed crowds attempting to gather along Nairobi’s streets, which remained largely empty as authorities set up roadblocks and deployed water cannons to block demonstrators.
Footage from a local TV station showed flames and smoke rising in the Githurai area near Nairobi, as protesters lit fires during clashes with police.
Police officers were also seen firing tear gas to disperse crowds gathered in the area. Several people were arrested by anti-riot police in Nairobi while attempting to access the city centre.
Dozens of protesters also turned up in the coastal city of Mombasa, escorted by security forces.
Deputy police chief Gilbert Masengeli said roadblocks were mounted to ensure no criminals or weapons entered the city, adding that the country remained calm, with citizens going about their daily activities without disruption.
“There are no blocked roads. We are just ensuring the safety of Kenyans and checking if they are carrying weapons,” Masengeli said.
“I am grateful that there are no vehicles being burnt and people are going about their work,” he added.
Some parents who lost children during the 2024 protests have appealed to the government to allow them to peacefully remember their loved ones.
“We don’t want tear gas and running battles in the streets. We are too old for that,” one parent told journalists in Nairobi.
Authorities have urged protesters to remain peaceful and avoid acts of violence, looting, or destruction of property.
President William Ruto said on Friday that people have a right to protest but warned that anyone “mobilised to destroy property or cause chaos” would not be tolerated.
Several political leaders, civil society groups, and human rights organisations have expressed support for peaceful demonstrations, describing them as part of the right to democratic expression protected under the Constitution.
Ruto’s former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, now a political rival, has urged Gen Z activists to stay away from the streets, citing concerns that the protests could turn violent. Instead, he has called on Kenyans to remain at home in a symbolic show of dissent.
Last week, President Ruto announced a fund of nearly $15 million (£11 million) to compensate nearly 2,000 victims of protest-related human rights abuses between 2017 and 2025, identified by rights groups.
Ruto said the compensation was not a “price for life, pain or loss” and should not be seen as rewarding violence or criminality.
However, human rights organisations have rejected the compensation plan, citing the exclusion of some victims, inadequate payouts, and a lack of transparency.
President Ruto is facing growing public discontent ahead of the 2027 elections, with critics accusing his government of failing to deliver on key campaign promises.
He rejects those claims, insisting his administration has fulfilled most of its pledges and is ready to defend its record as he seeks re-election.
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