Kenya witnessed a heavily policed commemoration of the second anniversary of the 2024 anti-government protests on Thursday, with security forces sealing off central Nairobi and detaining hundreds of people. The day marked both the anniversary of the June 25, 2024, demonstrations that saw protesters storm Parliament and the historic Saba Saba Day, which commemorates the 1990 pro-democracy movement.
Police Crackdown and Arrests
Police erected roadblocks on major highways and key roads into Nairobi's Central Business District, including Thika Road, Mombasa Road, and routes to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, according to multiple reports. Businesses and schools remained closed, and public transport was disrupted, with several long-distance bus operators suspending services.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said on Thursday that 355 people were arrested in various parts of the country, describing those detained as "criminals" and apologizing for the inconvenience caused by the security measures. He said the measures were necessary to "protect businesses and avert chaos." Al Jazeera reported that Murkomen also expressed regret over the barricades while defending their effectiveness in securing the city.
Witnesses and journalists said many ordinary Kenyans appeared among those detained, and police fired tear gas at protesters outside Nairobi's main police station who attempted to present a petition. Rights group Katiba Institute filed a contempt case against Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja, accusing authorities of ignoring a court order by setting up unannounced roadblocks.
Presidential Response and Compensation Fund
President William Ruto said last week that the protest would be allowed, but that the government would also protect schoolchildren and workers, warning against any attempts by demonstrators to "shut down the country." He also emphasized that people had a right to protest but warned against anyone "mobilised to destroy property or cause chaos," as reported by the BBC and other outlets.
Ruto announced a fund of nearly $15 million to compensate nearly 2,000 victims of protest-related human rights abuses. He described the compensation as "a state acknowledgment that harm occurred" but not an admission of guilt, adding that it should not be seen as a "reward for violence or criminality." Opposition leaders backed the protests, calling for transparency in the compensation programme.
Activists and Families Demand Justice
Activists and victims' families marked the day with calls for accountability and transparency. The Economic Justice Movement had planned a peaceful march to deliver a petition to Parliament highlighting alleged extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and police brutality. Fewer than 10 protesters managed to gather in the city centre before police moved in, with some being bundled into unmarked vehicles, according to AFP journalists.
"We've been met by brutal police who have denied us even to take this petition to Parliament," activist Joshua Nyanjom said. "So we are telling the members of the public that we are being hunted in our own country."
Some parents who lost children during the 2024 protests asked 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.
Saba Saba and the Legacy of Protest
Saba Saba Day, meaning "seven seven" in Swahili, commemorates the July 7, 1990, pro-democracy protests that helped end single-party rule in Kenya. In recent years, the anniversary has become a focal point for broader protests over corruption, rising living costs, and alleged police brutality under President Ruto's administration.
Activist James Mulamba said the day represents an unfinished struggle: "Whatever our heroes were fighting for in 1990 has still not been achieved in 2026." Siaya Governor James Orengo also noted that many grievances from 1990 remain unaddressed.
Death Toll and Ongoing Scrutiny
According to Kenya's police watchdog, at least 127 people were killed during protests in 2024 and 2025, with security forces accused of using excessive force and acting with near-total impunity. At least 60 people were killed when police opened fire outside Parliament in Nairobi during the June 2024 protests.
Ruto's former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, now a bitter rival, urged Gen Z activists to stay away from the streets, saying: "I plead with you: stay at home. The state has..." (the rest of the quote was not available in the provided text).
The legal challenge filed by Katiba Institute is set to test whether Kenya's police can be held accountable for defying court orders while policing public protests.