Gen Zers in Kenya are paying for their protests in blood as police violence goes unchecked

July 24, 2025

of "Inside Kenya's Blacked Out Protest" Kenya has experienced its deadliest protest period since demonstrations began in June 2024 against the controversial Finance Bill 2024, with at least 100 people killed across three major waves of violence. The "Gen Z Protests" erupted when young Kenyans, facing 67% unemployment rates, demonstrated against what they called "taxation without jobs," leading to police responding with tear gas, water cannons, and live ammunition. The most recent surge occurred during the July 7 "Saba Saba" anniversary marches, resulting in 38 deaths across seventeen counties, including two children.

Who is affected

Young Kenyans aged 15-34 (who face 67% unemployment)
Protesters across at least 17 counties
Families of the deceased (including children as young as 12)
Wounded protesters (over 100 from recent protests, hundreds more overall)
Those arrested during protests (532 arrests in seventeen counties during Saba Saba)
Kenyan citizens facing economic hardship and increased taxation
Communities in areas like Nairobi's Kangemi settlement

What action is being taken

Human rights organizations including Amnesty Kenya and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) are issuing joint statements condemning the killings
Rights groups are pressing for an independent inquiry into the deaths
Police are conducting internal probes into the use of force
Young Kenyans are organizing vigils for the dead
Protesters are shifting tactics from street protests to online activism, trending hashtags like #WanTam
Opposition leaders like former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua are publicly challenging President Ruto's coup narrative

Why it matters

The death toll from protests has exceeded 100 people, marking an unprecedented level of state violence against demonstrators
The protests represent a significant challenge to President Ruto's administration and governance approach
The unrest highlights Kenya's severe youth unemployment crisis (67% for ages 15-34)
Government officials' rhetoric authorizing lethal force ("shoot on sight," "shoot them in the leg") signals a dangerous escalation
Evidence suggests systematic cover-ups of protest deaths, with morgues listing gunshot deaths as accidents or "mob justice"
The protests mark the most significant civil unrest in Kenya since the 1990s, testing the state's tolerance for dissent
The movement demonstrates the power of social media in mobilizing Kenya's youth for political action

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article, though it mentions rights groups pressing for an independent inquiry, families seeking answers, and Gen Z organizers planning their "next move to keep the pressure up."

Read full article from source: Global Voices