Nairobi on Lockdown as Police Prepare for Gen Z Protests
WHO:
Al Jazeera - James Otieno, father of Denzel Omondi, expressed his pain regarding his son's disappearance, stating, "I don’t like seeing Denzel’s pictures and videos. They are a painful reminder of my son."
Al Jazeera - Susan Wangari Wanjohi, mother of Emmanuel Kamau Mukuria, shared her ongoing search for her son, saying, "There is no prison I have not visited in this country while looking for my child."
BBC News - Protesters, referred to as Gen Z, are involved in the planned protests.
ABC News World - Kenyan police are involved in blocking roads and managing access to Nairobi.
WHAT:
AP News - Police in Kenya detained 355 individuals during the protests, which were described by Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen as necessary to "protect businesses and avert chaos."
AP News - Three police officers have been charged in connection with the deaths of protesters during the June 2024 protests.
ABC News Business - Hundreds of people were arrested during the anniversary protests as families marched to Parliament demanding compensation and justice.
Al Jazeera - The Human Rights Watch World Report 2026 reported that at least 41 people linked to Kenya’s protests are still missing, including 26 from 2024 and 15 from 2025.
Al Jazeera - The Human Rights Watch World Report 2026 stated that 26 people linked to the 2024 anti-finance bill protests and 15 linked to the 2025 demonstrations remain missing.
Al Jazeera - The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) reported that only three of the 62 deaths from the 2024 protests have reached court.
Al Jazeera - The government has initiated a compensation program for 348 verified victims of human rights violations linked to protests from 2013 to 2025, with a total allocation of $3.46 million in the first phase.
Al Jazeera - Families of 115 people killed will receive $23,148 each, totaling $2.66 million.
BBC News - Protesters demand justice for more than 80 people killed during the 2024 demonstrations.
ABC News World - Police have set up roadblocks and are preventing access to Nairobi ahead of a planned protest.
WHERE:
BBC News - The protests are taking place in Nairobi, Kenya.
ABC News World - Key roads in Nairobi are sealed off by police.
WHEN:
ABC News World - The protests are planned to mark two years since more than 60 people died in anti-government demonstrations.
WHY:
AP News - Families of victims criticized the government's compensation program, stating that only two out of ten families whose children were shot near Parliament have received compensation, raising questions about the criteria used by the government.
BBC News - The protests are motivated by a demand for justice related to the deaths during previous demonstrations.
HOW:
Al Jazeera - IPOA Vice Chairperson Anne Wanjiku Mwangi stated, "The progress of a case to court depends on the sufficiency of evidence and the outcome of prosecutorial review by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions [ODPP]."
Al Jazeera - The IPOA stated that investigations into police actions depend on evidence thresholds and prosecutorial review by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
ABC News World - Police are using roadblocks as a method to control access to the capital ahead of the protests.
(UPDATED June 26, 2026 06:20 UTC)
Police in Kenya have detained 355 individuals during ongoing protests, which Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen called necessary to protect businesses and avert chaos. In a related development, three police officers have been charged in connection with the deaths of protesters during the June 2024 protests. Families of the victims have criticized the government's compensation program, revealing that only two out of ten families whose children were shot near Parliament have received any compensation, raising concerns about the criteria used by the government.
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(UPDATED June 25, 2026 19:40 UTC)
Families are expressing their anguish as they continue to search for their missing loved ones, with James Otieno, father of Denzel Omondi, sharing that seeing his son's pictures is a painful reminder of his absence, while Susan Wangari Wanjohi, mother of Emmanuel Kamau Mukuria, reveals she has visited every prison in the country in her desperate quest for her child. Amidst this heartache, hundreds were arrested during anniversary protests where families marched to Parliament demanding justice and compensation, as the Human Rights Watch World Report 2026 notes that at least 41 individuals linked to the protests remain missing. IPOA Vice Chairperson Anne Wanjiku Mwangi emphasized that the progress of these cases to court hinges on the sufficiency of evidence and the prosecutorial review by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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(UPDATED June 25, 2026 13:43 UTC)
The Human Rights Watch World Report 2026 reveals that 26 individuals connected to the 2024 anti-finance bill protests and 15 linked to the 2025 demonstrations are still missing. Meanwhile, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority reports that only three of the 62 deaths from the 2024 protests have made it to court, as investigations into police actions rely on evidence thresholds and prosecutorial review. In response to past human rights violations, the government has launched a compensation program for 348 verified victims, allocating a total of $3.46 million, which includes $23,148 for the families of 115 individuals who lost their lives.
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(UPDATED June 25, 2026 11:54 UTC)
Protesters, identified as Gen Z, are gearing up for demonstrations in Nairobi, Kenya, demanding justice for over 80 individuals who lost their lives during the 2024 protests. In anticipation of these events, police have established roadblocks to manage access to the city and prevent entry into key areas. The protests are set to take place to mark two years since more than 60 people died in anti-government demonstrations, highlighting ongoing calls for accountability and justice.