By Wahome Ngatia,
Nairobi, Kenya — In a powerful show of defiance and remembrance, thousands of Kenyans—led by Gen Z activists, civil society leaders, and celebrities—flooded the streets on June 25, 2025, to mark the first anniversary of last year’s deadly anti-tax protests. The demonstrations, dubbed #SiriNiNumbers, were both a tribute to the more than 60 lives lost in 2024 and a renewed cry for justice, accountability, and reform.
The protesters were calling for justice, police accountability, and the resignation of President William Ruto over unfulfilled promises and rising corruption.
Vocal Africa’s Hussein Khalid emerged as a central figure in the day’s events, seen comforting the injured and even assisting wounded police officers amidst the chaos. Flanked by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and former Chief Justice David Maraga, Khalid became a human bridge between a furious public and a government losing its moral compass.
Also present was Nerima Wako of Siasa Place, a mainstay in Kenya’s civic education space, and celebrated former Kiss FM presenter Adelle Onyango, now head of the Adelle Onyango Initiative. The country’s top music stars, including Khaligraph Jones and Nameless, turned up in solidarity—transforming the protest into a cultural moment of reckoning.
“This isn’t just about police bullets anymore,” shouted a tearful protester waving a placard. “It’s about a government deaf to the cries of the youth and blind to injustice.”
Fueling the outrage was the recent death of Albert Ojwang, a young man who died mysteriously in police custody after being arrested in Homa Bay. Just days before the anniversary, Boniface Kariuki was reportedly shot at close range while protesting Ojwang’s death, reigniting public fury and bolstering turnout.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission’s earlier report had confirmed that over 60 young men were killed by police during last year’s anti-government protests, many of them from economically marginalized communities. Their findings were echoed and expanded in the BBC’s harrowing documentary Blood Parliament, which captured, on camera, officers firing live rounds at demonstrators—officers who remain unpunished to date.
Tragically, this year’s commemorative protest turned bloody too. According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, at least 16 people were killed and over 400 injured, including both protesters and police officers.
As chants of “Ruto must go!” and “Stop police killings!” echoed through the streets, the government remained tight-lipped. But for many, this June 25th wasn’t just about the past. As the sun set on a day of mourning and resistance, one thing was clear: Kenya’s youth are not backing down. Their message—etched in chants, banners, and blood—is that silence is no longer an option.
