At least eight people have been confirmed dead and over 400 injured following a wave of anti-government protests that swept across Kenya as thousands took to the streets to voice their frustration with President William Ruto’s administration.
In scenes reminiscent of last year’s deadly demonstrations, protesters clashed with police in the capital, Nairobi, and other major cities. Demonstrators, many of them young people, carried tree branches and chanted “Ruto must go,” demanding action on the country’s rising cost of living and what they describe as worsening governance.
The protests mark exactly one year since similar mass demonstrations erupted in 2024, leading to numerous casualties and a nationwide outcry over the government’s heavy-handed response.
Tensions escalated after the government moved to ban live TV and radio coverage of the protests, a decision widely condemned by media rights groups and civil society organisations. However, the ban was swiftly overturned by the High Court in Nairobi, which ruled the move unconstitutional and a violation of press freedom.
Despite the court’s ruling, journalists reported harassment and interference from security forces while covering the protests.
Human rights groups have decried the rising death toll and called for an independent investigation into the police’s use of force.
Also, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights described the situation as “deeply alarming” and urged authorities to respect the rights of citizens to assemble and express dissent peacefully.
