Mass protests erupt in Nairobi against police brutality and government policies

Thousands of protesters filled the streets of Nairobi and other Kenyan cities, including Mombasa, on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of a dramatic storming of Parliament by demonstrators opposing proposed tax increases. The protests have escalated amid growing public anger over alleged police brutality and government repression.

The Kenyan government ordered television and radio stations to cease broadcasting the protests, according to reports from AFP. The unrest was reignited by the recent murder of a blogger while in police custody, which led to charges against three officers and fresh calls for justice.

In Nairobi, demonstrators chanted slogans against President William Ruto and extra-judicial killings, with some vowing to march to the president’s official residence. Protesters carried banners demanding accountability and an end to police violence. Eric Muriuki, a Nairobi-based lawyer who participated in the protests, told Semafor that young Kenyans were demanding justice for those killed during last year’s demonstrations.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights estimates that at least 60 people were killed during the protests last year, with many more injured. The anniversary demonstrations have drawn attention to ongoing concerns about human rights abuses and the use of excessive force by security forces.

The protests also reflect wider dissatisfaction with government policies and economic challenges facing many Kenyans. Despite government efforts to maintain order, the unrest underscores the fragile relationship between citizens and state institutions.

Observers warn that without meaningful reforms and accountability, tensions could continue to escalate, threatening stability in Kenya’s major urban centres.