Kenya at a Crossroads: Protests, Police Violence and Shrinking Space

Tension has exploded in Nairobi as scores of people receive treatment for gunshot wounds following violent clashes between police and protesters. Security forces have imposed a media blackout, pulling live broadcasts of the demonstrations, and government buildings—including Parliament and State House—have been sealed off.

Photo source: Arab news

Activists and civil society groups urged Kenyans to mark the anniversary of the 2024 anti-tax protests, during which 60 young people were killed and many more vanished beneath the wheels of repression. Their demand is simple: an end to brutality, transparent investigations and accountability for those responsible.

Photo source: Financial Times

What is taking place in Nairobi is deeply concerning. Police are meant to defend citizens, not intimidate them. When they fire live ammunition into crowds, they strip themselves of legitimacy. Denying media access does not restore order; it hides abuse. Smoking tear gas cannot silence the anger of people still grieving lost loved ones and demanding justice.

President Ruto’s government must answer these questions now. Who authorised the shootings? Where are the missing activists? Why are communications blacked out when the public has a right to know? Democracy crumbles when power fears public scrutiny.

Young people are pushing back against an old, corrupt system. They face economic hardship, rising inequality and a government that stalls basic change. Their call is not chaos. It is a plea for a Kenya that values dignity, fairness and transparency.

The choices ahead are clear. Authorities can choose openness, admit mistakes and initiate reform. Or they can choose force, repression and further alienation. History often judges those who choose repression harshly. Kenya must decide now which path it will take.