June 25 in Kenya will not only mark the anniversary of the massive protests against the Finance Bill that, in 2024, brought thousands of young people into the streets and culminated in the storming of Parliament. Above all, it will be a day dedicated to the memory of all the victims of political and institutional violence in recent years: protesters killed, citizens who have disappeared, victims of extrajudicial killings, and victims of alleged abuses while in custody.
Behind the slogans and demands of the national demonstration called for June 25 lies a long list of names and stories that many Kenyan families ask not to be forgotten.
The problem is that every demonstration in Kenya begins with the intention of being peaceful. And almost every time, it ends up turning into something else. Between infiltrators, criminal groups from the urban peripheries, provocateurs linked to political interests, and a law enforcement response that is often disproportionate even in the face of minor incidents, the risk of things getting out of hand now accompanies any mass mobilization.

With less than a week to go before the June 25 anniversary, anticipation is growing for what the organizers describe as a major national demonstration to commemorate the victims of the protests and human rights violations that have taken place in Kenya in recent years.
The initiative was formally notified to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja by a delegation led by former Minister of Justice Martha Karua, Siaya County Governor James Orengo, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, and activist Boniface Mwangi, accompanied by family members of the victims of the 2024 protests.
The organizers also called for June 25 to be officially recognized as a national day of remembrance. The date inevitably recalls the protests against the 2024 budget bill, which culminated in demonstrators storming Parliament and the subsequent crackdown that left dozens dead and hundreds injured.
But the commemoration is intended to have a broader significance. At the heart of the demands are also cases of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, and alleged ill-treatment during detention—cases that have been reported over the years by human rights organizations and the Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
Just in recent days, the government announced the launch of a compensation program for victims of human rights violations linked to the protests between 2017 and 2024. According to the KNCHR, over 1,800 claims for compensation have been documented.
However, concerns about potential incidents remain high. In Kenya, the line between peaceful demonstrations and unrest is often very thin. Experiences in recent years have shown that initially orderly marches can quickly degenerate due to the presence of infiltrators, groups of hooligans, looters, or provocateurs linked to local political interests. Added to this is a public order response that, according to observers and civic organizations, has often contributed to fueling tension through the use of force.
For this reason as well, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has issued an advisory to its citizens urging them to avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place, particularly in the center of the capital and in the country’s major cities. Washington anticipates possible roadblocks, heavy traffic delays, and a massive security presence.
The U.S. alert does not constitute a prediction of imminent violence, but reflects a well-established reality: in Kenya, when protests take to the streets, uncertainty about how the day will unfold is part of the equation. And June 25—a day of remembrance and calls for justice—could once again become a major test of the country’s ability to confront its recent past without adding new victims to the list of those being commemorated.