Kenyans gathered in Nairobi on Thursday to mark the two-year anniversary of the deadly 2024 Gen-Z anti-government protests [1].
The assembly represents a continued push for accountability and justice regarding the state's response to youth-led demonstrations. The events of 2024 marked a significant shift in Kenyan political activism, characterized by a digitally organized generation challenging government policy.
Security forces established a heavy presence in the city centre, sealing off main thoroughfares and key roads to control the movement of the crowds [2, 3]. The police presence included officers in riot gear and the installation of barricades across the capital's primary transit points [2].
Demonstrators marched to commemorate the victims of the 2024 unrest and to demand justice for those killed during the clashes [1, 2, 3]. The scale of the loss remains a point of contention among reporting agencies. Some reports said that more than 80 people died during the 2024 demonstrations and the previous year's anniversary protests [2, 4]. Other records said 16 people died during the nationwide anti-government protests in 2024, with most killed by police [5].
The 2024 protests were driven by a wave of frustration among the "Gen-Z" population, who utilized social media to mobilize against government actions. The anniversary serves as a reminder of the tension between the state's security apparatus and the public's right to assembly.
Authorities maintained a strict perimeter throughout the day to prevent the marches from escalating into widespread civil unrest. Despite the restrictions, protesters continued to gather in the heart of the city to ensure the victims of the 2024 violence were not forgotten [1, 3].
“Kenyans gathered in Nairobi on Thursday to mark the two-year anniversary of the deadly 2024 Gen-Z anti-government protests.”
The continued mobilization of the Gen-Z cohort in Kenya suggests that the grievances driving the 2024 protests remain unresolved. The disparity in casualty figures—ranging from 16 to over 80 deaths—highlights a lack of consensus on the official toll, which often fuels further public distrust in government transparency and security forces.
