Kenyan police deployed teargas and sealed key roads in Nairobi on Thursday to disperse crowds marking the second anniversary of the 2024 Gen Z protests [1, 2, 3].
The heavy security presence reflects the volatile legacy of the 2024 uprising, which saw widespread youth-led demonstrations against government policies and sparked a cycle of annual unrest.
Authorities focused their operations in the capital to prevent gatherings aimed at commemorating the original protests and demanding justice for previous victims [2, 4]. Police blocked major thoroughfares and used crowd-control measures to keep demonstrators away from government installations [2, 3].
The anniversary follows a period of significant violence. Reports indicate that more than 80 people died during the initial 2024 demonstrations and the subsequent anniversary protests held last year [2].
Data regarding the death toll varies by reporting period. Some reports state that 16 people died during nationwide anti-government protests one year after the 2024 events [5]. Other records from those anniversary demonstrations specifically note that two protesters died from gunshot wounds [6].
Families of victims have continued to call for accountability, citing the loss of life as a primary driver for continued mobilization [4]. The police response this week suggests the government remains concerned about the potential for these commemorations to evolve into broader civil unrest.
“More than 80 people died during the 2024 demonstrations and last year's anniversary protests”
The continued deployment of heavy security and teargas two years after the initial uprising indicates a persistent trust deficit between the Kenyan government and the youth population. By treating a commemorative anniversary as a security threat, the state signals that it views the legacy of the Gen Z protests not as a resolved political event, but as an active catalyst for potential instability.
