Imogen King By Imogen King
NZB News – July 6, 2025
Summary
Kenya faces a deepening crisis of governance and human rights as anniversary protests commemorating last year’s deadly anti-tax demonstrations result in sixteen deaths and over 400 injuries. The violence, primarily attributed to police brutality according to Amnesty International, highlights President William Ruto’s failure to address systemic issues of corruption, economic hardship, and state violence that continue to fuel public anger across the East African nation.
A Nation’s Pain Revisited
On June 25, 2025, the streets of Nairobi once again ran red with the blood of protesters as Kenya marked the grim anniversary of its worst civil unrest in recent memory. What began as peaceful demonstrations to commemorate the sixty lives lost during 2024’s anti-tax protests quickly devolved into scenes of horrific violence that have become tragically familiar in President William Ruto’s Kenya.
Sixteen people lost their lives and over 400 were injured as police deployed excessive force against demonstrators in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisii, and other major cities. The death toll, confirmed by Amnesty International Kenya and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), serves as a stark reminder that the fundamental issues driving public discontent remain unresolved one year after protesters stormed parliament in unprecedented scenes of civil disobedience.
The anniversary protests were triggered by multiple grievances that have festered under Ruto’s administration: persistent police brutality, government corruption, rising living costs, and most recently, the death of blogger and teacher Albert Omondi Ojwang in police custody. Ojwang’s death on June 8, 2025, after being arrested for criticising Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat on social media, crystallised public anger about the state’s intolerance of dissent and its willingness to use lethal force against critics.
Security guard Fred Wamale Wanyonyi, who was on duty protecting a mall in central Nairobi, emerged as one of the named victims of Wednesday’s violence—a tragic reminder that the state’s bullets do not discriminate between protesters and bystanders. His death, along with fifteen others, represents not just statistics but individual tragedies that reflect Kenya’s broader crisis of accountability and governance.
The Anatomy of State Violence
The pattern of police violence witnessed on June 25 followed a disturbing template established during the 2024 protests and repeated in subsequent demonstrations. Eyewitness accounts and human rights documentation reveal a systematic approach to crowd control that prioritises lethal force over de-escalation, treating peaceful protesters as enemies of the state rather than citizens exercising constitutional rights.
Irungu Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya, confirmed that most of the sixteen deaths resulted from police action, with at least five victims shot dead. The use of live ammunition against protesters represents a clear violation of international human rights standards, which permit lethal force only when strictly necessary to protect life and when no other means are available.
The deployment of both uniformed and plain-clothed officers created additional layers of violence and confusion. Human Rights Watch documentation from previous protests reveals a troubling pattern of police working with civilian collaborators—described by witnesses as “goons”—who attack protesters with clubs and other weapons whilst operating under police protection. This parallel enforcement system allows the state to maintain plausible deniability whilst inflicting maximum damage on protest movements.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen’s characterisation of the protests as “terrorism disguised as dissent” and accusations of attempted coup reveal the government’s fundamental misunderstanding of legitimate political grievances. His inflammatory rhetoric not only justifies police violence but also criminalises constitutional rights to assembly and expression that form the bedrock of democratic governance.
The geographical spread of violence across multiple counties—including fatalities in Machakos, Kisii, and Nakuru—demonstrates that police brutality is not confined to Nairobi but represents a nationwide crisis of law enforcement accountability. This pattern suggests coordinated instructions from senior leadership rather than isolated incidents of misconduct.
Media Suppression and Information Warfare
The government’s response to the protests extended beyond physical violence to encompass systematic suppression of media coverage designed to hide the scale of state brutality from public view. The Communications Authority of Kenya’s directive ordering television and radio stations to cease live coverage of the protests represents a direct assault on press freedom and democratic transparency.
At least three major television stations—NTV, KTN, and Citizen TV—had their signals switched off for allegedly defying the government directive, effectively blinding the public to events unfolding in their own country. The timing of this media blackout, coinciding with the peak of police violence, suggests deliberate coordination to prevent documentation of human rights violations.
The inclusion of journalists among the casualties—including NTV reporter Ruth Sarmwei, who was struck by a rubber bullet whilst covering the protests—reveals the government’s hostility towards independent reporting. This targeting of media professionals follows international patterns of authoritarian governance where controlling information becomes as important as controlling the streets.
Civil society organisations, including the Kenya Union of Journalists and Kenya Editors Guild, condemned the media restrictions as unconstitutional attacks on democracy. Their unified response highlights the recognition among democratic institutions that press freedom and protest rights are inseparably linked—both serving as essential checks on government power.
The High Court’s evening conservatory order suspending the communications ban provided temporary relief, but the damage to public trust in media independence had already been done. The government’s willingness to flout constitutional protections for press freedom reveals its authoritarian instincts when faced with accountability challenges.
The Blogger’s Death: A Catalyst for Rage
Albert Omondi Ojwang’s death in police custody serves as both trigger and symbol for Kenya’s broader crisis of state violence against dissent. The 31-year-old blogger and teacher was arrested on June 6, 2025, for “false publication” related to social media criticism of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat—a charge that criminalises political commentary in direct violation of constitutional free speech protections.
Police claims that Ojwang “sustained head injuries after hitting his head against the cell wall” echo familiar patterns of custodial death explanations that strain credibility whilst deflecting responsibility. The subsequent announcement that prosecutors had approved murder charges against six individuals, including three police officers, suggests recognition that official explanations fail to account for the circumstances of Ojwang’s death.
The blogger’s case represents broader patterns of online surveillance and persecution targeting digital critics of the Ruto administration. The criminalisation of social media commentary creates a chilling effect on political discourse whilst demonstrating the government’s intolerance for criticism from ordinary citizens who lack traditional political platforms.
Ojwang’s profession as a teacher adds additional symbolism to his death, representing the state’s assault on intellectual freedom and educational independence. Teachers traditionally serve as community leaders and voices of conscience—roles that make them particular targets for authoritarian governments seeking to suppress critical thinking and dissent.
The timing of protests following Ojwang’s death—building momentum through June before exploding on the June 25 anniversary—demonstrates how individual injustices can catalyse broader movements when they occur within contexts of systematic oppression and impunity.
Historical Patterns of Impunity
The 2025 protests occurred against a backdrop of complete impunity for previous police violence, creating conditions where security forces operate without fear of consequences. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights documented at least 63 deaths and 87 abductions during the 2024 protests, yet virtually no officers have faced accountability for these crimes.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) completed investigations into 22 deaths from the 2024 protests but brought only two cases to court—a conviction rate that effectively guarantees continued violence. This systematic failure of accountability mechanisms sends clear signals to police commanders that excessive force carries no professional or legal risks.
Human Rights Watch documentation reveals that following 2024 protests, bodies of missing persons appeared in rivers, forests, and mortuaries showing signs of torture and mutilation. Some survivors reported being forced to reveal names of protest leaders during detention—evidence of systematic intelligence gathering designed to decapitate civil society leadership.
The pattern of enforced disappearances particularly targets young men perceived as protest leaders, creating terror within activist communities whilst maintaining government deniability. Rights groups have documented over 80 disappearances since the 2024 protests, with dozens still missing—families left without answers whilst fearing to speak publicly about their missing relatives.
President Ruto’s previous promises to end abductions have proven hollow, whilst his recent pledge to “stand by” police suggests abandonment of even rhetorical commitments to reform. His warning that protesters cannot “use force against the police or insult, or threaten the police” effectively criminalises legitimate criticism of law enforcement whilst providing blanket protection for police misconduct.
Economic Grievances and Social Justice
Beneath the immediate triggers of police brutality and media suppression lie deeper economic grievances that continue driving Kenyan youth into the streets despite the obvious risks. Rising living costs, unemployment, and perceived corruption within Ruto’s administration create material conditions where many young people feel they have little left to lose through protest participation.
The original 2024 demonstrations focused on proposed tax increases that would have further burdened ordinary Kenyans whilst the political elite continued enjoying privileges and corruption opportunities. Although Ruto withdrew the controversial finance bill following last year’s protests, underlying economic policies continue prioritising debt service and elite interests over popular welfare.
Kenya’s youth unemployment crisis provides a demographic foundation for sustained protest movements, as educated young people face limited economic opportunities whilst watching political leaders accumulate wealth through corruption. This combination of frustrated aspirations and visible inequality creates explosive social conditions that require political rather than security solutions.
The government’s focus on suppressing protests rather than addressing root causes ensures continued cycles of violence and unrest. Each round of police brutality creates new grievances whilst failing to resolve the underlying issues that drive people into the streets in the first place.
International financial institutions’ continued support for Ruto’s government despite documented human rights violations provides external legitimacy that enables domestic repression. This international backing allows the government to present economic policies as necessary reforms rather than choices that prioritise creditor interests over citizen welfare.
Regional and International Implications
Kenya’s crisis of governance extends beyond national borders to affect regional stability and international partnerships. As East Africa’s largest economy and traditional anchor of regional security, Kenya’s descent into authoritarian governance creates spillover effects that concern neighbouring countries and international partners.
The joint statement from US, UK, Canadian, and other Western embassies urging restraint reflects international concern about Kenya’s democratic backsliding. However, these diplomatic expressions of concern lack enforcement mechanisms and fail to impose meaningful costs for continued human rights violations.
The African Union’s silence on Kenya’s protests reveals the organisation’s continued reluctance to address member state human rights violations, even when they involve mass killings of civilians. This institutional weakness undermines continental commitments to democracy and human rights whilst enabling authoritarian leaders across the region.
Kenya’s role as a major troop contributor to international peacekeeping missions creates additional complications, as security forces documented committing human rights violations at home continue representing the international community in conflict zones abroad. This contradiction undermines the credibility of peacekeeping operations whilst raising questions about the selection criteria for peacekeeping personnel.
Regional migration patterns could shift if Kenya’s crisis deepens, as educated professionals and dissidents seek opportunities and safety in neighbouring countries. Such population movements would strain regional resources whilst depriving Kenya of human capital needed for democratic renewal.
Civil Society Resilience and Organisation
Despite facing systematic repression, Kenyan civil society organisations continue demonstrating remarkable resilience and coordination in documenting abuses and supporting affected communities. The joint statements from Amnesty International Kenya, Law Society of Kenya, Kenya Medical Association, and other groups provide crucial independent documentation that challenges government narratives.
The rapid deployment of medical personnel to treat protest casualties reveals the depth of civil society organisation and commitment to humanitarian principles. Healthcare workers’ willingness to risk their own safety treating victims of police violence demonstrates professional ethics that contrast sharply with security forces’ conduct.
Legal challenges to government restrictions on protests and media coverage show that judicial independence retains some capacity to check executive overreach, even under authoritarian pressure. The High Court’s suspension of the media ban provides hope that constitutional protections retain some force despite government attempts to undermine them.
Human rights monitors’ continued documentation of violations despite personal risks ensures that evidence exists for future accountability mechanisms. This commitment to truth-telling under dangerous conditions preserves possibilities for justice whilst maintaining public awareness of government crimes.
The coordination between different civil society sectors—medical, legal, journalistic, and human rights—demonstrates organisational sophistication that enables sustained resistance to authoritarian governance. These networks provide infrastructure for democratic renewal when political opportunities emerge.
International Human Rights Framework
Kenya’s conduct during the protests violates multiple international human rights treaties to which it is a party, creating potential accountability mechanisms despite domestic impunity. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and other instruments provide legal frameworks for evaluating government conduct.
The systematic use of lethal force against protesters violates international standards requiring that such force be strictly necessary, proportionate, and used only when other means are insufficient to achieve legitimate law enforcement objectives. Kenya’s apparent shoot-to-kill policies fail all these tests whilst creating state responsibility for unlawful killings.
Restrictions on media coverage violate international protections for freedom of expression and information access that are essential for democratic accountability. The targeting of journalists during protests violates specific protections for media personnel whilst undermining public rights to information.
The pattern of enforced disappearances constitutes crimes against humanity under international law when committed as part of systematic attacks on civilian populations. Kenya’s failure to investigate and prosecute these crimes creates international legal obligations that may eventually require external enforcement.
Regional and international human rights mechanisms could potentially address Kenya’s violations through formal complaints and monitoring procedures, though political considerations often limit their effectiveness. The documentation being compiled by domestic and international human rights organisations provides essential evidence for such proceedings.
Looking Forward: Paths to Accountability
The immediate priority for Kenya must be ending the cycle of violence through meaningful accountability for police killings and systematic reforms to prevent future violations. This requires political will that currently appears absent from Ruto’s administration but could emerge through sustained domestic and international pressure.
Establishing independent investigations into protest-related deaths with international oversight could provide a foundation for justice whilst deterring future violations. Such mechanisms would need protection from government interference and authority to compel cooperation from security agencies.
Comprehensive police reform addressing training, accountability, and oversight systems represents a prerequisite for ending systematic violations of protest rights. This includes dismantling parallel enforcement systems using civilian collaborators whilst establishing robust oversight mechanisms with enforcement powers.
Truth-telling initiatives documenting the full scope of state violence could provide acknowledgment for victims whilst establishing historical records that prevent denial and revisionism. Such processes require civil society leadership and international support to maintain independence from government manipulation.
Constitutional and legal reforms protecting protest rights and media freedom need enforcement mechanisms that prevent government circumvention during crisis periods. This includes judicial independence protections and civil society access to courts for challenging government overreach.
New Zealand and Pacific Perspectives
From New Zealand’s perspective, Kenya’s crisis provides sobering lessons about the fragility of democratic institutions and the importance of protecting protest rights even under challenging circumstances. New Zealand’s own history of peaceful protest movements demonstrates alternative approaches to managing civil dissent that respect human rights whilst maintaining public order.
The contrast between New Zealand’s approach to protest policing and Kenya’s violence highlights the importance of police training, accountability systems, and democratic culture in determining outcomes. New Zealand’s generally restrained approach to protest management offers models for other countries seeking to balance security concerns with democratic rights.
New Zealand’s participation in international forums provides opportunities to raise Kenya’s human rights violations whilst supporting civil society organisations working for accountability. Diplomatic pressure coordinated with other democratic countries could increase costs for continued repression whilst supporting local advocates.
Pacific regional organisations could provide platforms for addressing authoritarian trends in Commonwealth countries like Kenya, leveraging shared democratic values and constitutional traditions to promote accountability. New Zealand’s leadership in regional forums positions it to champion human rights principles beyond immediate geographic boundaries.
The Kenya crisis also highlights the importance of maintaining robust democratic institutions and protest rights in New Zealand itself, as democratic backsliding can occur rapidly when institutional protections are weakened or ignored.
Synthesis and Urgent Imperatives
Kenya’s bloody anniversary protests represent a critical juncture in the country’s democratic development, revealing the stark choice between continued authoritarian drift and renewal of democratic governance. The sixteen deaths on June 25 are not isolated incidents but part of a systematic pattern of state violence that threatens to destroy Kenya’s democratic foundations.
President Ruto’s government faces a legitimacy crisis that cannot be resolved through violence and repression but requires fundamental changes in approach to governance, accountability, and citizen rights. The international community’s response to this crisis will determine whether Kenya receives the support needed for democratic renewal or the impunity that enables continued deterioration.
The courage demonstrated by Kenyan protesters, civil society organisations, and independent journalists provides hope for democratic renewal whilst highlighting the costs of resistance under authoritarian rule. Their sacrifices demand international support and recognition that extends beyond diplomatic statements to meaningful action for accountability.
Kenya’s youth deserve better than a future defined by poverty, repression, and state violence. The energy and determination they have shown in challenging injustice represents the country’s greatest asset for democratic transformation if channelled through reformed institutions rather than suppressed through violence.
The international community must choose between continued enabling of Ruto’s authoritarian governance or meaningful support for accountability and democratic renewal. Half-measures and diplomatic ambiguity serve only to encourage further violence whilst abandoning Kenyan democrats to face state repression alone.
The stakes extend beyond Kenya to encompass regional stability, international human rights norms, and the global struggle between democratic governance and authoritarian rule. Kenya’s crisis demands urgent attention not just as a humanitarian concern but as a test of international commitment to the democratic principles that underpin peaceful coexistence and human development.
Time is running short for peaceful resolution of Kenya’s crisis, as each round of violence hardens positions and narrows options for dialogue and reform. The international community’s response to this moment will determine whether Kenya returns to democratic governance or slides further into the authoritarianism that has claimed too many African lives and damaged too many African societies.
