The Police in Nairobi are alleged to have hired street goons to intercept the marching youth and attack the protestors
The Kenyan media, usually regarded as the freest in East Africa, were muzzled by William Ruto’s government, preventing them from giving live and full coverage of the repeated Gen Z protests in the country.
The Standard Media refused to comply with the government directives and proceeded to broadcast the protests.
However, unhampered by the snub from the mainstream media, the youthful population made themselves in platforms with even wider coverage and following; social media platforms.
These are also the ones the Gen Z were all more familiar with, as they hardly watch TV, listen to Radio or read mainstream newspapers.
“We are closing down Kenya for maintenance,” the youth declared.
The Kenya youthful population, which is closing down the current generation, has once more managed to close down the country for an entire day.
However, by evening, there were reports of police shooting the protestors with one youth being killed.
There were also claims that the police in Nairobi were hiring goons, to counterattack the youth demos in the city.
The June 25, 2025, demonstrations were staged in reminiscence of similar incidents which took place in the country exactly one year previously when young Kenyans stormed Parliament during massive protests against the controversial Finance Bill 2024.
More than 60 young people were in 2024 and these are being treated as heroes during the 2025 repeated marches.
It is reported that the June 2024 protests signaled the beginning of cases of enforced disappearance in Kenya, incidents that were previously only experienced in the neighboring country of Tanzania.
Over 20 disappearances were reported at the hands of security forces. The protests were driven by widespread discontent over excessive taxation, poor governance, corruption, and lack of accountability from President William Ruto’s administration.
Following last year’s Gen Z protests, President Ruto was compelled to withdraw the Finance Bill and disband his Cabinet, though most of the ministers returned via the back door.
This time even prominent figures joined the youth to march in the streets.
The politicians and celebrities were cheered on as they walked shoulder-to-shoulder with young demonstrators in Nairobi City.
Young Kenyans were demanding justice, accountability, and remembrance for those who lost their lives one year ago.
Among the notable faces spotted in the crowd were Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino, Former Chief Justice David Maraga, and celebrated rapper-entrepreneur King Kaka — all met with applause and admiration from protestors.