NAIROBI, Kenya — Security agencies on Thursday mounted a heavy presence around Parliament Buildings and key government installations in Nairobi as the country marked the second anniversary of the June 25, 2024, Gen Z-led anti-Finance Bill protests.
Large contingents of anti-riot police, General Service Unit (GSU) officers, and other security personnel were deployed along Parliament Road and surrounding streets, with authorities erecting barbed wire barricades to restrict access to sensitive areas within the Central Business District (CBD).
The heightened security operation significantly disrupted movement around Parliament and adjacent roads as police sought to secure strategic government facilities ahead of planned memorial demonstrations expected to draw participants from Nairobi and other parts of the country.
Traffic congestion was reported on major routes leading into the city centre, while roadblocks mounted at various entry points slowed the movement of vehicles and pedestrians. Several public service vehicles were barred from accessing parts of the CBD, forcing many commuters to complete their journeys on foot.
A number of businesses in sections of the city centre remained closed as traders adopted a cautious approach amid uncertainty over the scale of the planned commemorative protests.
The demonstrations are being held in remembrance of victims of the June 25, 2024, protests, which erupted in opposition to the Finance Bill and culminated in unprecedented scenes at Parliament. Thousands of young Kenyans took to the streets during the demonstrations, with some protesters breaching sections of the parliamentary precincts as clashes erupted between security officers and demonstrators.
The protests left several people dead, hundreds injured, and triggered widespread debate over governance, taxation, accountability, and police conduct. The events also marked one of the most significant youth-led political mobilisations in Kenya’s recent history.
Organisers of Thursday’s memorial events have described the demonstrations as peaceful commemorations intended to honour those who lost their lives during the 2024 protests while renewing calls for justice and accountability.
Human rights organisations and civil society groups have urged both protesters and law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint and uphold constitutional freedoms, including the rights to peaceful assembly, expression, and association.
The increased deployment comes despite ongoing debate over the notification process for the demonstrations. Police had earlier indicated they had not received formal notice of the planned gatherings, while activists maintained that the commemorative events would proceed peacefully.
By Thursday morning, security operations remained highly visible around Parliament, State offices, and other strategic locations, underscoring the significance authorities have attached to the anniversary.
As Kenya reflects on the events of June 2024, attention remains focused on whether the memorial demonstrations will proceed peacefully and whether security agencies can balance public order with constitutional rights guaranteed under the law.