Nairobi - Thousands of demonstrators poured into the streets of Nairobi and other major towns on Wednesday to commemorate one year since the country’s deadliest youth-led protests in recent memory—triggered by rising taxes and growing discontent with President William Ruto’s administration.

With heavy police presence, barricaded government buildings, and blocked roads into the capital’s central business district, the mood was tense but defiant. Protesters, many of them young Kenyans, waved national flags and held up photos of demonstrators killed last year as they chanted: “Ruto must go.”

The June 25, 2023, protests left at least 60 people dead, according to human rights groups, following a brutal state crackdown on citizens resisting steep tax increases and worsening economic conditions. The anniversary of that day has become a symbol of resistance and remembrance for a generation feeling abandoned by the political elite.

“I came to honour the lives of young Kenyans who were killed simply for asking for better,” said Eve, a 24-year-old protester in Nairobi. “It’s our right to demonstrate. The police should protect us, not kill us.”

Angel Mbuthia, youth leader in the opposition Jubilee Party, echoed the sentiment: “Young people must mark June 25th. We lost voices that spoke like us, looked like us, and stood for justice.”

This year’s commemorations take place against a backdrop of renewed anger over police brutality, especially after the death of 31-year-old teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang earlier this month while in custody. Ojwang had been arrested for criticizing a senior police officer. Three officers and three civilians were charged with his murder this week—an unprecedented move that has done little to calm public outrage.

Despite official assurances that protests would be allowed if “peaceful and unarmed,” activists say a disturbing pattern persists. Just last week, peaceful demonstrators were attacked by armed gangs on motorbikes—referred to locally as “goons”—allegedly operating with police complicity.

“The use of plainclothes officers and unmarked vehicles in suppressing protests damages trust,” read a joint statement by Western embassies, including the US, UK, and Canada, calling for restraint and protection of civil liberties.

President Ruto, who swept into office in 2022 with pledges of economic revival and inclusive growth, has faced mounting criticism over stagnant wages, rising living costs, and entrenched corruption. While last year’s protests forced the government to scrap a controversial finance bill, the damage to Ruto’s credibility among youth appears to be lasting.

Frustration is growing not only over economic hardship but also over the perceived return of authoritarian-style governance. Rights groups say more than 80 government critics have been abducted since the 2023 protests, with dozens still missing.

“It’s as if we’re back in the 80s—disappearances, silence, fear,” said a Nairobi-based human rights lawyer who asked not to be named. “The democratic space is shrinking fast.”

Yet in a speech on Tuesday, President Ruto stood firm, defending security forces and warning protesters against what he called “threats to the nation.”

“You cannot threaten the police or use force against them,” he declared. “We must uphold law and order.”

While Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged concerns over policing and pledged that violations would be addressed through legal channels, critics argue that institutions remain compromised by political influence.

“The call for accountability is hollow without real action,” said a statement by the Kenya Human Rights Commission. “Grieving families and survivors deserve justice, not more promises.”

For Kenya’s restless youth, the message was clear: they are not just remembering June 25—they are reclaiming it.


By WafricNews Desk.