--- title: "Eight reported dead, more than 400 injured after protests erupt in Kenya" description: "Kenyan rights body says eight deaths have been reported while hundreds are injured, including from bullet wounds, in anti-government protests marking the anniversary of bloody anti-tax bill demonstrations last year." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "DEADLY CLASHES" author: "Reuters" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-25-eight-reported-dead-more-than-400-injured-as-kenya-protests-erupt/" published: "2025-06-25T20:52:54" updated: "2025-06-25T21:10:12" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 807 --- # Eight reported dead, more than 400 injured after protests erupt in Kenya > Kenyan rights body says eight deaths have been reported while hundreds are injured, including from bullet wounds, in anti-government protests marking the anniversary of bloody anti-tax bill demonstrations last year. By Reuters · Published 25 June 2025, 22:52 SAST · Updated 25 June 2025, 23:10 SAST ## Key points - Kenya’s streets erupted in chaos as anti-government protests claimed at least eight lives and left more than 400 injured, with the nation again grappling with the heavy hand of the police and a simmering national anger. - At least eight people have died and more than 400 injured in Kenya during anti-government protests, marking a year since deadly demonstrations against a tax bill. - Police deployed heavy force, including tear gas and water cannon, as protesters clashed with authorities in Nairobi and other cities. - The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported allegations of excessive police violence, with many casualties from gunshot wounds. - Protests were fuelled by ongoing anger over police brutality and the recent death of a blogger in custody, igniting calls for justice among demonstrators. ## Content At least eight people died and 400 were injured during nationwide anti-government protests in Kenya on Wednesday, a year after deadly demonstrations [against a tax bill](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/young-kenyan-tax-protesters-plan-nationwide-demonstrations-2024-06-25/), the national rights watchdog said. ![A protester shot by police is carried away during a rally in the central business district in Nairobi, Kenya, on 17 June 2025. Protesters demanded justice and accountability for Albert Ojwang, a teacher and social media influencer who died in police custody on 7 June. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Daniel Irungu)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/rx2JTzl5rRyb0KZUTRw4KURHAwY=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13131666.jpg) *A protester shot by police is carried away during a rally in the central business district in Nairobi, Kenya, on 17 June 2025. Protesters demanded justice and accountability for Albert Ojwang, a teacher and social media influencer who died in police custody on 7 June. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Daniel Irungu)* ![A demonstrator jumps over a fire during a protest in the central business district of Nairobi, Kenya, 25 June 2025. The protest marks the first anniversary of the Gen Z protests, which culminated with the storming of the national parliament. EPA/DANIEL IRUNGU](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/ImFzWo7PFOCBm0EeNOfgOj219RA=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13148467.jpg) *A demonstrator somersaults over a fire during a protest in the central business district of Nairobi, Kenya, on 25 June 2025. The protest marks the first anniversary of the Gen Z protests, which culminated with the storming of the national parliament. (Photo: EPA / Daniel Irungu)* Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets to commemorate [last year’s demonstrations](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/young-kenyan-tax-protesters-plan-nationwide-demonstrations-2024-06-25/), in which more than 60 people died, with police firing tear gas and water cannon to disperse them in the capital Nairobi, according to local media and a Reuters witness. Some protesters clashed with police, and the government-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said late on Wednesday that eight deaths had been reported across the country, all “allegedly from gunshot wounds”. ![Protesters react next to a barricade of burning tyres barircade during a rally in the central business district in Nairobi, Kenya, on 17 June 2025.. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Daniel Irungu)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/OPi91lPLTL1yWQUvmtxpZ4J7NpU=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13131684.jpg) *Protesters gesticulate next to a barricade of burning tyres during a rally in the central business district in Nairobi, Kenya, on 17 June 2025.. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Daniel Irungu)* “Over 400 casualties have been reported, including demonstrators, police officers and journalists,” KNCHR said in a statement shared on its official X account. The watchdog did not say who had shot the victims, noting heavy police deployment and “allegations of excessive use of force, including rubber bullets, live ammunition and water cannon, resulting in numerous injuries”. Kenyan police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the KNCHR statement. ![Protesters avoid a tear gas canister during a rally in the central business district in Nairobi, Kenya, on 17 June 2025. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Daniel Irungu)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/mercCbuovU6WBVBjUzJ2bpDujdQ=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13131663.jpg) *Protesters avoid a tear gas canister during a rally in the central business district in Nairobi, Kenya, on 17 June 2025. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Daniel Irungu)* An official at the capital’s main Kenyatta National Hospital said the facility had received dozens of wounded people, “107 admitted, most with gunshot injuries”, the source said, referring to rubber bullets and live rounds. He said no deaths had been reported at the hospital. National electricity provider Kenya Power said one of its security guards was shot dead during the protests while patrolling its headquarters in Nairobi. Large crowds were seen earlier heading in the direction of State House, the president’s official residence, in scenes broadcast by Kenyan channel NTV before it and another broadcaster, KTN, were pulled off the air after defying an order to stop live broadcasts of the demonstrations. “We have been switched off from all the signal broadcasters, now we are only live on YouTube and the website,” a senior official at NTV’s parent Nation Media Group told Reuters. Both channels resumed broadcasts later on Wednesday after a court in Nairobi suspended the order issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya. The communications authority’s order was condemned by the Kenya Editors Guild, which called it “a gross violation of the Constitution.” #### **Anger against police** Protesters torched court facilities in Kikuyu town on the outskirts of Nairobi, Citizen TV reported. Flames and thick smoke billowed from the court building in a video posted on the broadcaster’s X account. Isolated clashes were reported in the port city of Mombasa, according to NTV, with protests also in the towns of Kitengela, Kisii, Matuu and Nyeri. Although last year’s protests faded after President William Ruto withdrew proposed tax hikes, public anger has remained over the use of excessive force by security agencies, with [fresh demonstrations](https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/protests-in-kenya-over-death-of-blogger-in-custody-last-week/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjU6bmV3c21sX01SUFJDMlowRkEyWjVTRQ) this month over the [death of a blogger](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenya-charge-police-officers-with-murder-over-bloggers-death-custody-2025-06-23/) in police custody. ![Kenyan police officers James Mukhwana (right) and Peter Kimani (centre) in the dock during a plea taking before Lady Justice Diana Mochache at the Kibera Law Courts in Nairobi, Kenya, 24 June 2025. They face charges of murdering Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang while he was in police custody. Six people, including three police officers, pleaded not guilty. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Daniel Irungu)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/FA7j-3LCpD9xCkfCBK8EJ03xhRQ=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13146439.jpg) *Kenyan police officers James Mukhwana (right) and Peter Kimani (centre) in the dock during a plea hearing before Lady Justice Diana Mochache at the Kibera Law Courts in Nairobi, Kenya, on 24 June 2025. They face charges of murdering Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang while he was in police custody. Six people, including three police officers, pleaded not guilty. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Daniel Irungu)* Six people, including three police officers, were [charged with murder](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenya-charge-police-officers-with-murder-over-bloggers-death-custody-2025-06-23/) on Tuesday over the killing of 31-year-old blogger and teacher, Albert Ojwang. All have pleaded not guilty. Ojwang’s death has become a [lightning rod](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenyan-bloggers-wife-seeks-answers-after-his-death-police-custody-2025-06-14/) for Kenyans still mourning those who perished in last year’s demonstrations, [blamed on security forces](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/how-kenya-police-cover-up-killings-anti-government-protesters-2025-01-06/), against a backdrop of dozens of [unexplained disappearances](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/how-kenya-police-cover-up-killings-anti-government-protesters-2025-01-06/). “We are fighting for the rights of our fellow youths and Kenyans and the people who died since June 25 ... we want justice,” Lumumba Harmony, a protester, told Reuters in Nairobi. The unprecedented scenes on 25 June 2024, showing police firing at protesters as they broke through barriers to enter parliament, created the biggest crisis of Ruto’s presidency and sparked alarm among Kenya’s international allies. **DM**