NAIROBI, KENYA — Tensions flared across major Kenyan cities on Tuesday as demonstrators clashed with security forces during mass rallies marking the one-year anniversary of the deadly anti-tax protests that rocked the nation in 2024.
In Nairobi, the capital, protesters gathered in front of the Parliament Building, chanting slogans and waving placards to remember those who lost their lives during last year’s demonstrations and to condemn the government’s continued imposition of burdensome taxes. What began as peaceful commemorations soon descended into violence as police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Similar scenes played out in other regions such as Kisumu, Nakuru, and Mombasa, with reports of scattered violence, property damage, and arrests. Eyewitnesses said several people were injured in the chaos, while security agencies confirmed detaining dozens of protesters for what authorities described as “unauthorised assembly and disturbance of public peace.”
The protests were held to honour victims of the 2024 tax revolt, in which dozens of Kenyans were killed during confrontations with security operatives. The initial protests, triggered by proposed tax hikes on fuel, food items, and digital transactions under President William Ruto’s administration, had drawn widespread public outrage and international concern.
This year’s demonstrations—organised by civil society groups, students, and youth activists—called for a reversal of the current tax policies and better governance. Protesters accused the government of failing to fulfil its economic promises, citing worsening inflation, high youth unemployment, and declining living standards.
While President Ruto has defended his administration’s fiscal measures as essential to economic recovery and debt sustainability, critics argue that the reforms continue to disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya, have condemned the state’s heavy-handed approach to protest management and demanded the immediate release of peaceful demonstrators. They also called for justice and accountability over last year’s killings.
As of Tuesday evening, heavy police presence remained in parts of Nairobi and other protest zones. The Interior Ministry has urged the public to remain calm and warned that it would not tolerate any breach of public order.
The anniversary protests have once again brought to the fore deep-rooted frustrations in Kenya, where citizens are demanding greater transparency, accountability, and economic relief from the government.
