One year down the line, and the streets of Nairobi are still marred with the blood of youth protesters and activists. As Kenyans mark a year after the 2024 Finance Bill protest, a day to remember the souls that succumbed to police brutality then, the degree of police brutality and the lack of government accountability has barely changed.

Demonstrations that happened last week acted as a warm-up for Wednesday’s protests that took place across 23 counties, as protesters today not only called for justice for slain blogger Albert Ojwang, but also called for Kenya’s President to resign.

Wednesday started with the barricading of the Parliament road, which was breached last year, as well as the blocking of major roads leading to the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) by the police. At around 7 am, anti-riot police were in most of the major streets in Nairobi and police presence was also seen in different parts of the country, with police lobbing teargas against peaceful protesters.

The right to protest in Kenya is recognised under Article 37 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, giving Kenyan citizens the right to exercise their constitutionally recognised rights peacefully. The protests, however, turned violent at around midday as casualties were reported not only in the Nairobi CBD but also in different parts of the country with one female police officer being viciously attacked by protesters, one protester in Kitengela, Nairobi being shot in the head and a lady hit with a teargas canister in her face, causing damaging part of her dental formula. David K. Maraga, the former Chief Justice of Kenya, was also seen seeking shelter at the Nation Centre, at a local TV office in Nairobi.

In Eldoret city, a place considered to be the home town of the current president, goons carrying clubs were seen to be walking in the company of anti-riot police, a move that has since then been linked to the government. Currently, two deaths have been reported in Nairobi CBD, with some still not confirmed as the numbers continue to rise.

Later in the day, the Communications Authority of Kenya, (CAK) made an order regarding the Live Coverage of Demonstrations, stating that the demonstrations are contrary to Articles 33(2) and 34(1) of the Constitution as well as Section 461 of the Kenya Information and Communication Act,  directing all television and radio stations to stop any live coverage of the demonstrations forthwith.  A media blackout began shortly after. This not only undermined the freedom of the press under Article 34 of the Constitution but also the freedom of access to information under Article 35 as well.

Soon thereafter, a local NGO called Katiba Institute and the Kenya Human Rights Commission sued the government for blocking the roads leading to Nairobi CBD, violating constitutionally recognised rights. The petition noted that despite the prior court rulings explicitly prohibiting blanket bans on the protests in the CBD, the police continue to circumvent the law, effectively establishing a police state that undermines Kenya’s democratic gains.

As the sun went down, more deaths continued to be reported in different parts of the country with Amnesty International Kenya confirming the death of eight protesters from gunshot wounds and 400 others treated, with 83 of them referred to specialised treatment for serious injuries. A High Court decision by Justice EC Mwita, on the same evening, in an action brought by the Law Society of Kenya against the State Law Office, issued conservatory orders suspending the directive issued by CAK to all Television and Radio Stations directing them to stop the live coverage of the demonstrations of the 25th June until the hearing and determination of the Petition.

Business owners within the Nairobi CBD and its environs are now counting losses as some shops were looted, vandalized and some even set on fire. The question that now remains is where Kenya is headed as a country, and how many deaths need to occur before the grievances of its people are addressed and the government becomes accountable for its actions.