GNV News, June 29, 2025

On June 25, 2025, mass rallies aimed at protesting police violence and government corruption were held across 23 counties in Kenya, and clashes with police left at least 19 people dead and more than 530 injured. In early June, teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang died while in police custody, and his death triggered fresh protests. In response, the Kenyan government has intensified media control, banning live television coverage of the protests, while police raided private broadcasters and unconstitutionally cut off their transmissions. In light of these developments, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a statement expressing concern over excessive use of force by police.

These protests mark the first anniversary of the tax increase bill demonstrations protesting the government in 2024. Introduced by the government in June 2024, the finance bill was presented as a measure to raise revenue for economic development and address the fiscal deficit. However, it included tax hikes on essential goods, an increase in the value-added tax (VAT rate), and increases in other existing tax rates. In response, citizens—especially young people—staged massive demonstrations occupying Parliament, arguing the bill would increase economic burdens and entrench inequality; police gunfire left at least 65 people dead, and President William Ruto was ultimately forced to withdraw the bill. Since then, however, public anger has continued to grow over government corruption, routinized police violence against protesters, the frequent disappearances of government critics, and dissatisfaction with declining living standards, with protests spreading via social media.

Learn more about examples of alleged election fraud and political turmoil → “Mozambique plunged into political instability after the presidential election”

Learn more about youth-led protests around the world → “Bangladesh: Regime change and the student movement”

Photo: Protests in Kenya (Capital FM Kenya / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY 3.0] )