NAIROBI (Kaab TV) – Kenyan security agencies arrested 355 people during demonstrations marking the first anniversary of the 2025 Gen Z protests, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced, as the country witnessed renewed anti-government demonstrations across several major towns and cities.
According to Murkomen, the arrests were made during security operations carried out in Nairobi and other parts of the country after protesters took to the streets to commemorate those who were killed during last year’s demonstrations and to renew calls for government accountability, police reforms, and an end to corruption.
The Interior Ministry said the demonstrations were infiltrated by criminal elements who engaged in looting, vandalism, and attacks on businesses and public infrastructure. Murkomen defended the police response, saying security agencies acted to restore law and order and protect lives and property, while insisting that anyone found responsible for criminal acts would face prosecution.
The anniversary demonstrations drew thousands of mostly young Kenyans who carried placards, waved Kenyan flags, and chanted slogans demanding justice for victims of the 2025 protests. Many demonstrators also called for greater government transparency, improved economic opportunities, and accountability over allegations of excessive use of force by police during previous protests.
The Gen Z movement first emerged in 2025 as a youth-led campaign opposing controversial government policies, particularly tax increases contained in the Finance Bill. What began as an online campaign quickly evolved into nationwide demonstrations that became one of the largest protest movements in Kenya’s recent history.
The protests culminated in demonstrators storming Parliament in Nairobi, prompting a heavy security response. Dozens of people were killed and many others injured during the unrest, while hundreds were arrested. The events triggered widespread domestic and international criticism over the use of force by security agencies and prompted President William Ruto to withdraw the controversial Finance Bill.
Since then, the Gen Z movement has evolved into a broader campaign advocating for economic reforms, improved governance, anti-corruption measures, and greater political accountability. The movement has continued to mobilize large numbers of young Kenyans through social media, making it one of the country’s most influential civic movements.
Human rights organizations have urged Kenyan authorities to ensure that security operations respect constitutional rights, including the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression, while calling for independent investigations into allegations of police brutality during both the 2025 protests and this year’s anniversary demonstrations.
Although the government maintains that the arrests targeted individuals involved in criminal activities, opposition figures and civil society organizations have called for restraint and urged authorities to distinguish between peaceful protesters and those engaging in violence.
The anniversary demonstrations also come just days after Kenya witnessed another wave of nationwide protests over rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of living. The recent demonstrations, which spread across several counties, left multiple people dead and dozens injured following clashes between protesters and security forces. The unrest highlighted growing public frustration over economic hardship, with many Kenyans accusing the government of failing to address soaring prices of fuel, food, and other essential commodities.
Political analysts say the back-to-back protests reflect deepening public discontent and underscore the mounting pressure on President William Ruto’s administration to respond to both economic grievances and demands for greater accountability.
The latest demonstrations underscore the continuing political and social tensions in Kenya, where many young people remain frustrated by the rising cost of living, unemployment, and demands for greater government accountability. Observers say the government’s handling of the anniversary protests is likely to remain under close scrutiny both domestically and internationally in the days ahead.