NAIROBI, Kenya — Security forces in Nairobi have deployed water cannons as crowds of Gen Z protesters continue to swell in the city centre, marking the anniversary of last year’s deadly anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.
As of midday, large groups of youth had gathered along Kenyatta Avenue, Moi Avenue, and adjacent streets, defying heavy police presence and road closures.
Officers responded with tear gas and, for the first time during Wednesday’s protests, water cannon trucks to disperse crowds attempting to regroup near Parliament Road and the National Archives area.
The police escalation follows earlier attempts to block protesters from entering the Central Business District (CBD), including the use of roadblocks and razor wire.
Despite these measures, demonstrators—many waving placards and chanting pro-reform slogans—pressed on, calling for justice, accountability, and an end to police brutality.
Earlier in the day, a protester was seriously injured when a tear gas canister exploded in his hand. His condition remains unknown.
With movement in the CBD heavily restricted and public transport barred, many Nairobians were forced to walk long distances. Most businesses kept their doors shut, turning the capital into a near ghost town.
Wednesday’s demonstrations coincide with national calls to honour the 63 young people killed during the 2024 protests, with activists declaring June 25 a “people’s holiday.”
Authorities have maintained they will enforce the law while protecting life and property. But as the protests gain momentum, tension between protesters and law enforcement appears to be rising.
