Police Arrest Hundreds on Protest Anniversary

Kenyan police detained 355 people across the country on Thursday as demonstrators marked the second anniversary of the June 2024 protests that left at least 60 people dead outside parliament in Nairobi.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed the figure in a statement, calling those arrested "criminals" who had attempted to commit offences under the cover of peaceful demonstration. Nairobi recorded the highest number of arrests at 161, followed by Kajiado with 123 and Kiambu with 36. Murkomen said suspects would face charges including robbery, vandalism, obstruction of roads, and attempted theft.

He also apologised for the disruption caused by security measures. "We regret the inconveniences occasioned by these measures, and at the same time appreciate their effectiveness in securing the city," he told reporters.

Streets Locked Down, Families Turned Away

For much of Thursday, barricades turned Nairobi's central business district into a no-go zone. Shops closed, public transport stayed off the roads, and major highways into the capital were blocked by police checkpoints extending as far as Nakuru, Embu, Nakuru, and Kajiado counties. Civil society groups said the restrictions violated constitutional rights to freedom of movement and peaceful assembly.

The Police Reforms Working Group said in a statement: "These blanket restrictions denied millions of Kenyans access to work, business premises and essential services."

Reuters journalists observed police firing tear gas at a group gathering peacefully outside Nairobi's central police station after officers detained six people who had laid flowers near parliament.

Families Want Justice, Not Only Compensation

The demonstrations were organised to honour those killed during the June 25, 2024 protests, when thousands of young Kenyans stormed parliament to oppose a Finance Bill proposing tax increases amid rising living costs. Police opened fire, killing dozens.

Victims' families said they were not only grieving but demanding accountability and transparency in a government compensation programme. The programme currently covers 348 verified victims, with a first-phase allocation of approximately $3.46 million.

Edith Wanjiku, whose 19-year-old son Ibrahim Kamau was shot in the neck and killed, told the Associated Press that her family had submitted documents but had not yet received payment. "Only two out of 10 families whose children were shot that day near parliament have been compensated and we are wondering what criteria the government is using," she said.

Gillian Munyao, whose son Rex Masai was also killed, was direct about what she wanted. "Arrest the killer cops, that's my message to the government," she said.

The chair of the compensation panel, Makau Mutua, said the process was ongoing and every verified claim would be paid.

The Missing

The Human Rights Watch World Report 2026 documented that at least 41 people linked to Kenya's protests across 2024 and 2025 remain missing. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported at least 63 deaths, 610 injuries, and 74 enforced disappearances during the 2024 protest period alone.

Three police officers have been charged in the deaths of protesters, but rights groups say prosecution has been slow and investigations into disappearances have barely begun.

What to Watch

President William Ruto said last week that the government's compensation programme represented "a state acknowledgment that harm occurred" but was not an admission of guilt. Opposition leaders, who backed Thursday's demonstrations, are calling for full transparency in how the $15 million fund is being distributed. With families and civil society groups showing no sign of backing down, further pressure on the government is expected around future protest anniversaries.