Security was tightened across Nairobi on Wednesday as Kenya marked the first anniversary of the 2023 anti-tax protests that left 60 people dead and 20 still unaccounted for. Roads leading to Parliament and the presidential office were barricaded with razor wire, and police were deployed in force to deter planned demonstrations.
Last year’s protests erupted over rising taxes and government corruption, culminating in dramatic scenes where protesters stormed Parliament and parts of the building were set ablaze. Witness accounts and rights groups reported police firing on crowds, prompting military involvement.
The anger hasn’t cooled. Many young Kenyans remain frustrated by corruption, high living costs, and persistent police brutality. Public outrage grew further following the recent death of a blogger in custody and the shooting of a protester at close range.
Despite official claims that Wednesday would be a “normal working day,” central Nairobi businesses remained closed and vehicle movement was restricted. Protesters still gathered by morning, chanting anti-government slogans as police fired tear gas into some groups.
Wangechi Kahuria, head of the Independent Medico Legal Unit, emphasized that citizens should be free to mourn those lost. Political analyst Herman Manyora urged authorities to respect the commemoration and called the slain protesters “heroes.”
Although President William Ruto responded to last year’s crisis by dissolving his Cabinet, he reappointed many of the same ministers, raising concerns about real change. A controversial finance bill was withdrawn at the time, but new taxes have since been introduced, deepening public discontent.
Local media honored the victims, with The Standard publishing their names under the banner “A luta Continua” a phrase meaning “the struggle continues.”
