Kenya marks second anniversary of deadly 2024 protests with memorial marches
Kenyans gathered on Thursday to mark the second anniversary of the deadly June 2024 protests, returning to the streets in a renewed expression of grief, anger and political frustration that continues to challenge President William Ruto’s government. Annual marches were held across the country to commemorate those killed during the original wave of demonstrations, while pressing demands that have gone largely unmet since parliament was stormed two years ago.
Remembering the dead
On June 25, 2024, Kenyan protesters forced their way into parliament in scenes that shocked the nation. The episode was the most dramatic flashpoint of weeks of youth-led protests that had begun over a controversial finance bill but quickly broadened into a wider rebellion against the rising cost of living and persistent corruption. The violence that followed left dozens of people dead, according to civil society groups and rights organisations, and left a deep mark on the country’s political landscape.
Two years on, the families of those killed joined activists, opposition figures and ordinary citizens in memorial processions. Organisers say the annual march on June 25 has become a way to keep pressure on the authorities, honour the dead and remind the public of unresolved grievances. Placards, songs and moments of silence punctuated the demonstrations, echoing the spirit of the original movement that drew predominantly young Kenyans into the streets.
Grievances that remain
Despite pledges from the Ruto administration to address youth unemployment and curb corruption, many protesters say little has changed. Economic hardship has remained a central concern, with successive fiscal measures seen by critics as disproportionately burdening low-income households. The original protests were rooted in opposition to a finance bill that proposed new taxes, and while that bill was withdrawn, similar debates over taxation and public spending have resurfaced.
Frustration with the president, who came to power promising a bottom-up economic transformation, has only grown. Activists argue that corruption cases have moved slowly through the courts and that the cost-of-living crisis shows few signs of easing. For many young Kenyans, the anniversary is both a moment of mourning and a renewed call for accountability.
A divided political landscape
The government’s response to the commemorations has highlighted the political divisions the protests have exposed. Authorities have in the past defended their handling of the 2024 unrest as necessary to maintain public order, while acknowledging the right of citizens to demonstrate peacefully. Opposition leaders have continued to use the anniversary to rally support, framing the protests as a watershed moment that opened a broader reckoning over governance and economic policy.
Analysts say the persistence of the annual marches suggests that the 2024 protests have evolved from a single political event into an enduring social movement. With the memory of those killed still raw for many families, the second anniversary underscored that the questions raised by the original uprising remain firmly on Kenya’s political agenda.
Source: FRANCE 24 — read the original report.
