Marches in Kenya to mark a year since a massive anti-government demonstration turned violent on Wednesday, resulted in the death of two and hundreds injured as protesters held running battles with police, who flooded Nairobi’s streets with tear gas. They also sealed off government buildings with barbed wire.
At least 60 people were killed last year by security forces in weeks of protests over tax rises and the dire economic situation for young Kenyans, peaking when a huge crowd stormed parliament on June 25.
Thousands gathered in central Nairobi and other towns on Wednesday, including the families of last year’s victims, for initially peaceful anniversary marches.
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They soon descended into chaos as scattered groups ripped up flagstones to throw projectiles at security forces.
Two people were shot and killed in the town of Matuu, around 100 kilometres (65 miles) from the capital, a hospital official said, with local media reporting that police had fired on protesters.
Emergency medics dealt with at least 300 injured people in Nairobi, including 67 in critical condition, an official with a multi-agency response team told journalists.
By late afternoon, local media showed huge crowds trying to reach the business district with police holding them off with roadblocks.
Media ordered to stop live coverage
The Kenyan government on Wednesday ordered TV and radio stations to immediately stop broadcasting the protests.
The Communications Authority of Kenya said live coverage of the protests was in breach of constitutional rules.
“This is therefore to direct all television and radio stations to stop any live coverage of the demonstrations forthwith,” it said in a statement.
There was outrage online over the live broadcast ban.
Most Kenyan media appeared to be continuing with live coverage despite the order.
The Standard Group, which runs TV, radio and a newspaper, said in a statement that it was an attempted “news blackout” and that it would continue broadcasting.
It said it had information that the Communications Authority had “ordered signal carriers to deplatform any media house doing live broadcasts”.
The Standard Group said “similar threats” were made at the height of the 2024 protests.
Amnesty International condemned the ban, saying “silencing the press is not the solution”.
NetBlocks, a global internet tracker, said social media platform Telegram had been restricted.
Anger over police brutality
Anger has flared over police brutality, particularly after a teacher was killed in custody earlier this month.
A group of peaceful protesters was attacked last week by a gang of motorbike-riding “goons”, as they are known in Kenya, armed with whips and clubs and working in tandem with the police.
Western embassies in Kenya, including those of Britain, Germany and the United States, criticised in a joint statement “the use of hired ‘goons’ to infiltrate or disrupt peaceful gatherings”.
The “goons” were not clearly present on Wednesday, but police used large amounts of tear gas and water cannons as they attempted to push back groups of protesters.
Analyst and lawyer Javas Bigambo expressed worries that political groups would exploit the volatile mood to foster violence.
“There is nothing good to celebrate about the events that happened last year,” he said. “If we were serious about commemorating June 25th, it should be in solemnity, prayer and restraint.”
‘Ruto must go’
There is deep resentment against Ruto, who came to power in 2022 promising rapid economic progress.
Many are disillusioned by continued stagnation, corruption and high taxes, even after last year’s protests forced Ruto to cancel the unpopular finance bill.
His government has been at pains to avoid direct tax rises this year.
But the frequent disappearances of government critics – rights groups have counted more than 80 since last year’s protests, with dozens still missing – have led many to accuse Ruto of returning Kenya to the dark days of its dictatorship in the 1980s and 1990s.
Many protesters chanted for the resignation of President William Ruto.
“We are marching against police brutality, against oppression by the government, against high taxation, everything that is going wrong in this country,” said Anthony, 25, who was also selling flags and did not want to give his full name.
“We are here as the young generation. We want a complete overhaul of the system, the system is rotten, the system is rogue,” said protester Florence Achala in Nairobi.
Ruto has previously promised an end to abductions but was unapologetic in a speech on Tuesday, vowing to “stand by” the police.
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