Families lay flowers on barbed wire barricade on anniversary of deadly Kenya protests
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
The turnout in Nairobi was relatively low, but some protesters marched right up to parliament to lay flowers
ByWycliffe MuiaReporting fromNairobi and Akisa WanderaReporting fromNairobi
Families of those killed during Kenya's anti-government protests have placed flowers on barbed wire outside parliament, as demonstrations took place to mark two years since the deadly clashes.
Police in Nairobi blocked key roads and arrested several protesters, though turnout in the capital was low compared to the 2024 protests and anniversary demonstrations last year.
The authorities also barricaded parliament with barbed wire, preventing families of the deceased from laying wreaths and flowers by the building.
"All I want is for the government to bring the officers responsible for killing our children before us and let them apologise," Jacinta Anyango told the BBC outside parliament.
Anyango, whose 12-year-old son Kennedy was killed in 2024 in clashes on the outskirts of Nairobi, said: "Who does the president expect to vote for him next year if he continues killing us like this?
Some had called for nationwide protests to demand justice for more than 80 people who were killed and dozens more injured during the youth-led demonstrations. The 2024 protest was sparked by anger over controversial tax proposals.
Caroline Mutisya attended parliament on Thursday to honour her late son, Erickson, but said the heavy police presence made it difficult for her to speak freely.
"I came here today to remember my son who was killed just 50 metres (54 yards) from parliament buildings," she said. "But I do not feel safe enough to express myself."
Opposition leaders led by Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa joined the families and a small number of activists on their march to parliament.
In the coastal city of Mombasa, hundreds of young protesters walked through the streets dressed in black and draped in Kenyan flags.
Escorted by security officers, they carried banners calling for justice and an end to extra-judicial killings.
Muted protests took part in a number of other locations across Kenya.
Central Nairobi was deserted after security forces blocked access, stranding commuters on the city's outskirts. Many businesses and schools remained closed.
There were pockets of clashes between police and protesters in the capital, with security forces firing tear gas and demonstrators throwing stones in some areas.
Police officers on horseback dispersed crowds, while 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.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Thousands of commuters were stranded for hours after security officers blocked public transport vehicles in Nairobi
In June 2024, tens of thousands of Kenyans protested against the proposed tax hikes, culminating in the storming of parliament and the eventual withdrawal of the controversial finance bill.
But the security forces were accused of using excessive force, with a BBC investigation finding that police had deliberately tried to kill 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, deputy police chief Gilbert Masengeli said roadblocks had been mounted to ensure no criminals or weapons entered Nairobi, adding that the country had remained calm, with citizens going about their daily activities without disruption.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
There were a number of clashes between protesters and security forces on Thursday
President William Ruto said last Friday that people had 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 expressed support for peaceful demonstrations, describing them as part of the right to democratic expression protected under the country's constitution.
Ruto's former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, now a bitter rival, urged Gen Z activists to stay away from the streets, citing concerns that the protests could turn violent. Instead, he called on Kenyans to remain at home in a symbolic show of dissent.
Last week, President Ruto announced a fund of nearly $15m (£11m) 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 pay-outs 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 saying he is ready to defend its record as he seeks re-election.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
On the second anniversary of Kenya's 2024 anti-government protests, families of the deceased gathered at parliament to lay flowers and demand accountability. The 2024 demonstrations, initially sparked by proposed tax increases, resulted in at least 80 deaths and dozens injured, with allegations of excessive police force and extrajudicial killings. Thursday's commemorations saw police roadblocks limiting access to central Nairobi and scattered clashes with tear gas and stone-throwing. Turnout in the capital was smaller than previous years, though demonstrations took place in Mombasa and elsewhere. Opposition figures joined families in calling for justice. President Ruto's recent announcement of a $15m compensation fund was rejected by human rights organisations as insufficient and lacking transparency. The government maintains security measures were necessary to prevent disorder.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
The turnout in Nairobi was relatively low, but some protesters marched right up to parliament to lay flowers
ByWycliffe MuiaReporting fromNairobi and Akisa WanderaReporting fromNairobi
Families of those killed during Kenya's anti-government protests have placed flowers on barbed wire outside parliament, as demonstrations took place to mark two years since the deadly clashes.
Police in Nairobi blocked key roads and arrested several protesters, though turnout in the capital was low compared to the 2024 protests and anniversary demonstrations last year.
The authorities also barricaded parliament with barbed wire, preventing families of the deceased from laying wreaths and flowers by the building.
"All I want is for the government to bring the officers responsible for killing our children before us and let them apologise," Jacinta Anyango told the BBC outside parliament.
Anyango, whose 12-year-old son Kennedy was killed in 2024 in clashes on the outskirts of Nairobi, said: "Who does the president expect to vote for him next year if he continues killing us like this?
Some had called for nationwide protests to demand justice for more than 80 people who were killed and dozens more injured during the youth-led demonstrations. The 2024 protest was sparked by anger over controversial tax proposals.
Caroline Mutisya attended parliament on Thursday to honour her late son, Erickson, but said the heavy police presence made it difficult for her to speak freely.
"I came here today to remember my son who was killed just 50 metres (54 yards) from parliament buildings," she said. "But I do not feel safe enough to express myself."
Opposition leaders led by Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa joined the families and a small number of activists on their march to parliament.
In the coastal city of Mombasa, hundreds of young protesters walked through the streets dressed in black and draped in Kenyan flags.
Escorted by security officers, they carried banners calling for justice and an end to extra-judicial killings.
Muted protests took part in a number of other locations across Kenya.
Central Nairobi was deserted after security forces blocked access, stranding commuters on the city's outskirts. Many businesses and schools remained closed.
There were pockets of clashes between police and protesters in the capital, with security forces firing tear gas and demonstrators throwing stones in some areas.
Police officers on horseback dispersed crowds, while 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.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Thousands of commuters were stranded for hours after security officers blocked public transport vehicles in Nairobi
In June 2024, tens of thousands of Kenyans protested against the proposed tax hikes, culminating in the storming of parliament and the eventual withdrawal of the controversial finance bill.
But the security forces were accused of using excessive force, with a BBC investigation finding that police had deliberately tried to kill 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, deputy police chief Gilbert Masengeli said roadblocks had been mounted to ensure no criminals or weapons entered Nairobi, adding that the country had remained calm, with citizens going about their daily activities without disruption.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
There were a number of clashes between protesters and security forces on Thursday
President William Ruto said last Friday that people had 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 expressed support for peaceful demonstrations, describing them as part of the right to democratic expression protected under the country's constitution.
Ruto's former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, now a bitter rival, urged Gen Z activists to stay away from the streets, citing concerns that the protests could turn violent. Instead, he called on Kenyans to remain at home in a symbolic show of dissent.
Last week, President Ruto announced a fund of nearly $15m (£11m) 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 pay-outs 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 saying he is ready to defend its record as he seeks re-election.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Families of those killed during Kenya's 2024 anti-government protests placed flowers on barbed wire outside parliament on Thursday to mark two years since the deadly clashes. More than 80 people were killed and dozens injured during the 2024 youth-led demonstrations, which were sparked by anger over controversial tax proposals. Police in Nairobi blocked key roads, arrested several protesters, and barricaded parliament with barbed wire on Thursday. A BBC investigation found that police had deliberately tried to kill protesters during the 2024 demonstrations. Dozens of people were reportedly abducted in the days following the protests, allegedly by members of the security forces. Turnout in Nairobi was low compared to the 2024 protests and previous anniversary demonstrations. Hundreds of young protesters marched through Mombasa dressed in black and draped in Kenyan flags, calling for justice and an end to extrajudicial killings. Police officers on horseback dispersed crowds, and security forces fired tear gas while protesters threw stones in some areas. Deputy police chief Gilbert Masengeli said roadblocks were mounted to ensure no criminals or weapons entered Nairobi and that the country had remained calm. President Ruto announced a $15m compensation fund for nearly 2,000 victims of protest-related human rights abuses identified by rights groups. Human rights organisations 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. Critics accuse his government of failing to deliver on key campaign promises. Ruto insists his administration has fulfilled most of its pledges.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
- Families of Kenyans killed during 2024 anti-government protests placed flowers on barbed wire outside parliament on Thursday to mark the second anniversary of the clashes
- Police blocked roads and arrested protesters; turnout in Nairobi was low compared to previous years, though hundreds demonstrated in Mombasa and other locations
- At least 80 people were killed during the 2024 protests, which began over proposed tax increases; a BBC investigation found police used excessive force
- President Ruto announced a $15m compensation fund for protest-related human rights abuse victims, but rights groups rejected it as inadequate and non-transparent