Kenyan police fire tear gas and arrest 355 as Nairobi shut down for protest anniversary

Nairobi locked down

Police blocked all roads into the central business district, set up water-cannon trucks and strung razor wire outside parliament. Shops, restaurants and schools closed, leaving the capital largely deserted. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen had warned a day earlier that anyone engaging in chaos, looting or criminal acts would face "the full force of the law."

Marchers met with force

A few dozen demonstrators, including families of victims and opposition figures, tried to reach parliament to lay flowers. They were heavily outnumbered by riot police. Officers used tear gas and a sound cannon to disperse the crowd. Some protesters placed wreaths on the razor wire barricades after being blocked from the grounds.

“As parents, we sought permission just to come here to mourn and lay flowers for our children. But when we arrived, we were shocked because the police blocked us.”

Arrests and government response

Interior Minister Murkomen said 355 people were arrested across the country, calling them "criminals" and apologising for the inconvenience of the security measures. Nairobi's police chief Issa Mohamud said the roadblocks were meant to keep criminals out of the city. The U.S. Embassy had issued an alert advising citizens to avoid protest areas.

“I arrived yesterday. I knew the government would be cowardly and prevent people from coming. I spent the night in the central business district. We have never seen a city centre with barbed wire in the streets. It is absurd.”

Unresolved grievances

Protest organisers demanded justice for victims, credible investigations into police conduct and guarantees against excessive force. President William Ruto said last week that 2 billion Kenyan shillings ($15.5 million) had been set aside for reparations. But families say no officers have been held accountable. Four people were killed last month during protests against fuel price rises, according to RFI.

“June 25th is a reminder of what this regime is all about. It is a reminder of when you guys lost legitimacy to the people of Kenya.”

Legacy of the 2024 uprising

The original protests erupted on June 25, 2024, over a finance bill that would have raised taxes. The loosely organised Gen Z movement breached parliament grounds before a security crackdown left at least 60 dead, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. The government withdrew the bill, but commemorative protests last year also turned deadly. Activists say the economic pressures and police brutality that drove the movement remain unresolved.