Kenyan police detained more than 300 people in Nairobi on Thursday during demonstrations marking the anniversary of the 2024 Gen Z protests [1].

The crackdown signals ongoing tension between the Kenyan government and a youth-led movement that continues to demand accountability for state violence. The persistence of these protests two years later suggests that the grievances fueling the original uprising remain unresolved [4].

Security forces used tear gas to disperse crowds and sealed off key roads throughout the capital to prevent further gatherings [3]. According to reports, the arrests occurred as demonstrators returned to the streets to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the 2024 events [4].

The primary driver of the current unrest is a demand for justice regarding the original 2024 protests. During that uprising, more than 80 people were killed [3]. Families of the victims continue to seek legal and political accountability for those deaths [5].

While most reports center on the events in Nairobi, some accounts indicate that police actions and arrests also took place in Nanyuki. These reports vary on whether the Nanyuki demonstrations were tied to the anniversary or a proposed Ebola quarantine center.

Authorities maintained a heavy presence in the city to disrupt the gatherings. The use of force on this anniversary underscores the volatile relationship between the state and the Gen Z demographic, a group that has proven capable of mobilizing rapidly and effectively against government policy.

“Police arrested more than 300 people and fired tear‑gas during demonstrations”

The recurrence of these protests indicates that the 2024 Gen Z movement was not a momentary outburst but a systemic shift in Kenyan political engagement. By focusing on the death toll of more than 80 people, the movement has transitioned from policy-based grievances to a broader demand for human rights and judicial reform, suggesting that stability in the region may depend on the government's willingness to address past state violence.