Kenyan police established roadblocks on major highways leading into the capital, Nairobi, on Thursday, restricting access ahead of planned anti-government demonstrations. The protests are scheduled to commemorate two years since demonstrations in June 2024, which resulted in at least 60 deaths and the storming of the parliament building.
Families of those who died during the 2024 protests have voiced concerns about the delayed delivery of justice and accused the government of a lack of transparency in its compensation process for victims of human rights abuses. Edith Wanjiku, whose 19-year-old son Ibrahim Kamau was killed during the previous protests, described the emotional toll and stated her family has yet to receive compensation despite submitting the necessary documentation. "Only two out of 10 families whose children were shot that day near Parliament have been compensated and we are wondering what criteria the government is using," Wanjiku told The Associated Press.
President William Ruto stated last week that citizens would be permitted to protest, but the government would also ensure children could attend school and workers could go to their jobs. He cautioned against any attempts to "shut down the country." Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen announced that police would escort protesters but warned that individuals disguising themselves as demonstrators to infiltrate and raid businesses would not be permitted.
Opposition leaders have expressed support for the planned protests, advocating for greater transparency in the government's compensation program. The protests two years ago saw thousands of young Kenyans storm the parliament to oppose a finance bill that included tax increases amid a rising cost of living. Police responded by opening fire outside the building, leading to the deaths of numerous protesters.
President Ruto has previously characterized the government's compensation as a "state acknowledgment that harm occurred" rather than an "admission" of guilt. He further clarified that the compensation is not a "price of life, of pain or of loss," nor should it be viewed as a "reward for violence or criminality."