Police siege turns Gen Z remembrance into day of arrests
What was supposed to be a solemn commemoration of those killed or injured in the 2024 Gen Z protests over punitive measures proposed in the Finance Bill on Thursday, June 25, 2026 turned into a nightmare for their families after police barricaded major thoroughfare leading into Nairobi and heavily restricted movement into the Central Business District (CBD).
While police had previously said they would allow the families and others who wanted to picket in solidarity with them, they woke up to find roads barricaded by heavily armed officers.
Parliament buildings which was breached in 2024 after Members of Parliament (MPs) defied calls to reject the Bill, which saw them scamper for safety using an underground tunnel was a no-go zone as police barricaded it with razor-sharp barbed wire, a move that has been question by politicians, lawyers and human rights defenders.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja defended the heavy deployment of police officers and roadblocks, saying they were acting on intelligence reports indicating criminals planned to infiltrate peaceful protests to loot cause violence and destroy property.
On July 9 last year, the High Court had outlawed the blocking of roads unless the police issue a prior public notice to ensure Kenyans are not inconvenienced.
However, this was not observed during the commemoration with thousands of Nairobi residents being forced to walk long distances after access to the CBD was restricted with PSVs being turned back.
Though families of the 50 youths killed in 2024 and Opposition leaders were eventually allowed to access Parliament Road to lay wreaths in their honour, others who attempted to protest were arrested with 355 being detained in Nairobi and other parts of the country where the day was marked.
Even before the commemoration protests took place, there were signs that the State was keen on forestalling them after prominent activist Bob Njagi was arrested on Wednesday for alleged incitement.
Njagi, who has been in past protests in the Kitengela area, was on Friday arraigned in a Kajiado court where police were allowed to detain him for seven days pending conclusion of investigations.
In a statement, the Police Reforms Working Group Executive to uphold constitutional rights, comply with court orders as directed in Katiba Institute v Inspector General of Police & another; Law Society of Kenya (Interested Party) (Constitutional Petition E349 of 2024), delivered on 6 February 2025, which prohibit blanket restrictions, require officer identification, and call for police facilitation of peaceful assemblies.
It condemned continued reliance on restrictive and punitive approaches to public assemblies, inconsistent with the Constitution, adding that under Article 24, any limitation of rights must be lawful, reasonable, and justifiable in an open and democratic society.
“Blanket restrictions, unlawful arrests, and excessive force fall far short of this standard,” it said.
“Kenya is also bound by regional and international obligations, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, which protect freedoms of expression, assembly, association, and participation in public affairs.”
“Today’s barricades raise serious concerns about continued disregard of court orders and the constitutional principle that all public authorities are bound by the law. The rule of law requires compliance with court orders, especially by those entrusted with enforcing them,” Katiba Institute separately said.
