Deadly Protests: At Least 16 Killed During June 25 Gen Z-Led Protests in Kenya
What began as a peaceful commemoration of the deadly 2024 Finance Bill protests turned tragic on June 25, 2025, when fresh demonstrations across Kenya escalated into deadly confrontations with security forces. Human rights groups, including Amnesty Kenya and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), confirmed that at least 16 people were killed, most as a result of police action, with hundreds more injured in what has become one of the deadliest protest events in Kenya’s recent history.
The protests, largely led by young people from Generation Z, were organized to mark the first anniversary of the 2024 protests, which forced President William Ruto to withdraw the controversial Finance Bill after nationwide outrage. On this anniversary, demonstrators again took to the streets of major towns including Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Nyeri to protest continued economic hardship, corruption, and rising police brutality. The death of popular youth activist and blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody earlier in the month added emotional fuel to the demonstrations.
In Nairobi, tensions reached a boiling point as protesters attempted to march toward State House and Parliament. Police responded with heavy force, using tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and in some areas, live ammunition. Reports from Kenyatta National Hospital indicated over 100 people were admitted with injuries, many from gunshots. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with protesters fleeing clouds of tear gas and falling to the ground under live fire.
Rights groups say that of the 16 confirmed dead, at least 8 were fatally shot. Hundreds of others suffered injuries, including journalists and bystanders. KNCHR also reported that at least 61 individuals were arrested nationwide. Amid the chaos, reports emerged of attempts to suppress media coverage. The Communications Authority of Kenya ordered major TV stations, including KTN and NTV, to stop broadcasting live footage of the protests—a move widely condemned by civil society and press freedom advocates.
Protesters, many of whom were participating peacefully, expressed anger and frustration over the state’s response. “I’ve come here to protest for our rights, against police violence. But the same police meant to protect us are now the ones killing us,” said Eve, a 24-year-old demonstrator in Nairobi.
The events bear chilling resemblance to the 2024 protests, during which over 60 people were killed and Parliament was partially set ablaze. Although those demonstrations resulted in a major political retreat with the scrapping of the Finance Bill, many of the root issues—economic inequality, corruption, and abuse of power—remain unresolved, fueling this year’s renewed wave of activism.
Observers now warn of rising tensions and fear that Kenya may be entering a cycle of annual mass protests if the government fails to address the deep-seated grievances voiced by the youth. Political analysts have described Gen Z as a “formidable and fearless” civic force, one that is no longer relying on traditional leadership but instead using digital tools to organize and hold power to account.
Read: Nairobi Traders Count Millions in Losses In Post-Protest Mayhem
Investigations into the killings and excessive use of force have been launched by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), with human rights groups calling for justice, accountability, and reform of Kenya’s security apparatus. Pressure is also mounting on the government to compensate victims’ families and guarantee the right to protest without lethal consequences.
