Kenyan anti-tax protests erupted into deadly violence on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, after thousands of youths took to the streets to commemorate the first anniversary of the 2024 anti-tax demonstrations.
On the anniversary of the 2024 deadly protests sparked by opposition to a controversial finance bill, tragedy struck again as at least 16 people were killed and over 400 injured across 27 counties, according to reports from local media.
The Keyan anti-tax protests were said to have begun peacefully, with young Kenyans honoring the memory of those who lost their lives in last year’s protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
However, tensions escalated rapidly as police allegedly shot at unarmed protesters, reigniting outrage over excessive force.
It was also gathered that Kenyan police allegedly fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters.
Roads leading to the Kenyan parliament building and the president’s office were barricaded ahead of the demonstrations.
In Mombasa, some protesters were arrested and hauled into police trucks.
Amidst the violence, the Communications Authority of Kenya ordered all television and radio stations in the country to stop broadcasting live coverage of the youth-led march.
Speaking on the development, Irungu Houghton, Amnesty Kenya’s executive director, confirmed that some protesters clashed with police, and 16 people were “verified dead as of 8:30”.
Houghton added that the figures were verified by the global rights watchdog and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
“Most were killed by police,” Houghton said, adding that at least five of the victims had been shot dead.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the Kenyan anti-tax protests erupted to mark the anniversary of Kenyans who died during the 2024 protest in the country.
At least 82 people were reported dead, with hundreds more wounded and another significant number missing in last June’s protests.
