Religious leaders converge outside National Archives – Nairobi to pray for Kenya and those who lost their loved ones following GenZ protests | Photo Credit: Brian Ochieng
Kenya is currently grappling with an unprecedented wave of youth-led protests, primarily driven by Generation Z, that have escalated in scale and intensity across the nation. These demonstrations, fueled by deep-seated socio-economic grievances and governance issues, have resulted in widespread disruption and a tragic human cost.
The Unfolding Crisis
GenZ protestors in Nairobi resting while demanding for a better nation | Photo Credit: Brian Ochieng
On June 25, 2025, nationwide protests across 27 counties led to significant casualties, with reports indicating 19 fatalities and 531 injuries, a stark increase from the June 25, 2024, protests, which recorded 60 deaths and 20 missing individuals.
By the end of June 25, 2025, the toll had tragically risen to 15 enforced disappearances and 179 arrests, alongside disturbing reports of sexual violence. The protests, predominantly led by Gen Z youth and increasingly joined by opposition figures and human rights activists, are a response to alleged government neglect, burdensome taxes, the rising cost of living, and persistent police brutality.
Kenyan police officers enforcing law and order in Nairobi City during the recent peaceful GenZ protests | Photo Credit: Brian Ochieng
The unrest, which began escalating in 2024, has seen major anniversaries like June 25th become focal points for renewed action, alongside ongoing sporadic protests.
Geographically, the impact is nationwide, with significant disruptions observed in major urban centers, including Nairobi, Eldoret, Mombasa, Kisii, and notably, Nakuru. Initially, these demonstrations were largely peaceful but have been met with a severe response from security forces, involving tear gas, live fire, and allegations of state-sponsored violence.
Peaceful GenZ protestants in Mombasa | Photo Credit: Brian Ochieng
The Genesis of Discontent: Why Gen Z Rises
The widespread protests are rooted in profound socio-economic and governance issues that have driven Kenya’s youth to the streets. A consistent set of grievances has dominated public anxiety over the past year. In 2024, unemployment was cited as a concern by 89% of Kenyans, followed by corruption at 84% and the cost of living at 82%.
These issues remained paramount in 2025, with unemployment still the most cited concern at 85%, closely followed by the cost of living at 84% and corruption at 82%. Beyond these, young Kenyans also prioritize health, education, and security as critical problems the government must address.
A significant factor fueling the unrest is the profound sense of disenfranchisement among the youth. Surveys indicate that a majority of young people, 55%, perceive their country as moving in the “wrong direction,” and 56% describe economic conditions as “fairly bad” or “very bad”. This perception is compounded by a feeling of being unheard and excluded from governance.
A striking 71% of respondents reported that their voice is not being acknowledged by the government, with only 11% feeling their concerns are being heard. Furthermore, a vast majority, 79%, believe the government is not addressing the needs of the youth.
This translates into a significant lack of trust, as 63% of respondents expressed minimal confidence in the government’s ability to appropriately respond to protest concerns, with 38% trusting the government “very little” and 26% “not at all”.
The economic realities for youth are particularly harsh; 43% of young people are actively seeking employment, a stark contrast to the 23-32% among middle-aged individuals. With up to 800,000 young people entering the job market annually, youth unemployment remains a critical policy challenge.
This pervasive economic hardship and political dissatisfaction have led more than four in ten young Kenyans, 43%, to consider emigrating, with 25% having given it “a lot” of thought, primarily motivated by the search for jobs and an escape from economic hardship.
The widespread protests are rooted in profound socio-economic and governance issues that have driven Kenya’s youth to the streets. A consistent set of grievances has dominated public anxiety over the past year. In 2024, unemployment was cited as a concern by 89% of Kenyans, followed by corruption at 84% and the cost of living at 82%.
These issues remained paramount in 2025, with unemployment still the most cited concern at 85%, closely followed by the cost of living at 84% and corruption at 82%. Beyond these, young Kenyans also prioritize health, education, and security as critical problems the government must address.
A significant factor fueling the unrest is the profound sense of disenfranchisement among the youth. Surveys indicate that a majority of young people, 55%, perceive their country as moving in the “wrong direction,” and 56% describe economic conditions as “fairly bad” or “very bad”.
This perception is compounded by a feeling of being unheard and excluded from governance. A striking 71% of respondents reported that their voice is not being acknowledged by the government, with only 11% feeling their concerns are being heard.
Furthermore, a vast majority, 79%, believe the government is not addressing the needs of the youth. This translates into a significant lack of trust, as 63% of respondents expressed minimal confidence in the government’s ability to appropriately respond to protest concerns, with 38% trusting the government “very little” and 26% “not at all”.
The economic realities for youth are particularly harsh; 43% of young people are actively seeking employment, a stark contrast to the 23-32% among middle-aged individuals. With up to 800,000 young people entering the job market annually, youth unemployment remains a critical policy challenge.
This pervasive economic hardship and political dissatisfaction have led more than four in ten young Kenyans, 43%, to consider emigrating, with 25% having given it “a lot” of thought, primarily motivated by the search for jobs and an escape from economic hardship.
The widespread protests are rooted in profound socio-economic and governance issues that have driven Kenya’s youth to the streets. A consistent set of grievances has dominated public anxiety over the past year. In 2024, unemployment was cited as a concern by 89% of Kenyans, followed by corruption at 84% and the cost of living at 82%.
Nakuru’s Ground Zero: A City Under Siege
A phone retail shop invaded by goons during the recent GenZ protests in Nakuru city | Photo by Brian Ochieng
Nakuru, a prominent town in Kenya, has been at the epicenter of the Gen Z protests, experiencing significant human and economic costs. Reports indicate that police opened fire on protesters in Molo, within Nakuru County, resulting in at least two deaths and several injuries during the June 2025 demonstrations.
This adds to a grim record, as Missing Voices documented five police killings in Nakuru County during the 2024 protests alone. These figures underscore the direct and severe physical dangers faced by residents during these events. The economic impact on Nakuru has been substantial.
During the June 25, 2025, anti-government protests, there was a “near-total shutdown of businesses and transport services” in major towns, including Nakuru. While specific comprehensive statistics for Nakuru are not available, the qualitative description points to severe disruption.
More concretely, traders in Naivasha, also in Nakuru County, reported “losses worth millions of shillings” due to looting and ransacking of businesses by “goons” during the June 2025 protests. Three major supermarkets—Powerstar, Naivas, and Khetias—were specifically targeted, with goods worth millions stolen.
The office of a local Member of Parliament was also razed during the 2024 protests. Nationally, 41% of respondents indicated their businesses were disrupted by the protests, a figure likely mirrored or exceeded in heavily impacted areas like Nakuru.
Beyond direct losses, broader economic ripple effects are evident, such as the cancellation of the Lewa Safari Marathon in 2024 due to Gen Z protests, affecting tourism and related sectors. The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has highlighted the general disturbance of supply chains, higher operational costs, and a weakening business climate, along with reduced consumer and investor confidence, as critical impacts on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The Shadow War: Abductions, Killings, and the Fight for Justice
Armed police officers enforcing security in Nairobi after the recent protests | Photo by Brian Ochieng
Beyond the visible clashes, a more sinister “shadow war” is being waged against activists and youth in Kenya, characterized by systematic targeting, abductions, and extrajudicial killings. Human rights organizations have documented a chilling reality.
Missing Voices reported a total of 159 cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in 2024, with 104 (65%) being police-related killings and 55 (35%) enforced disappearances. This represents a significant escalation, as 2024 saw a 24% increase in such cases compared to 2023, with enforced disappearances alone surging by an alarming 450% from 10 cases in 2023 to 55 in 2024.
A substantial portion of these extrajudicial killings, 58 cases, occurred during the Gen Z protests between June and August 2024, with June alone accounting for 38 cases. More recently, CIVICUS reported over 80 young activists abducted by armed plainclothes personnel in recent months, with at least 82 people reportedly abducted since June 2024, and 20 still missing.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has documented 63 extrajudicial killings and 89 enforced disappearances, with 29 individuals still unaccounted for. The June 25, 2025 protests alone saw 15 enforced disappearances.
Kenya’s Shifting Sands: Political Instability and Social Fracture
Kenya’s political landscape is characterized by persistent instability and significant governance challenges, which have been exacerbated by the recent wave of protests. Freedom House consistently rates Kenya as “Partly Free,” highlighting pervasive corruption and brutality by security forces as serious ongoing problems.
The political instability, marked by internal rifts and persistent corruption, is not merely a backdrop to the protests but is actively exacerbated by them. The government’s characterization of protests as an “attempted coup” signals a strategy of criminalizing dissent rather than addressing its root causes.
This approach, combined with the ineffectiveness of anti-corruption bodies, suggests a deepening governance deficit where accountability is elusive and political maneuvering takes precedence over public welfare.
Voices of Resilience: The Uncowed Spirit
Despite the severe risks and escalating repression, the Gen Z protest movement in Kenya demonstrates remarkable resilience and continued determination. Protesters have consistently vowed to continue their push for accountability, even in the face of casualties, media blackouts, and intensified police presence.
A key factor in the movement’s persistence is the strategic leveraging of media and digital platforms. A significant 65% of respondents relied on social media platforms for updates and developments during the protests. TikTok (42%), Twitter (38%), and Facebook (33%) played a substantial role in shaping public perception.
The Path Forward: Challenges and Hopes
The path to lasting change in Kenya is fraught with challenges, yet glimmers of hope persist. A significant obstacle is the pervasive public skepticism; 57% of respondents believe that “nothing had really changed” between the 2024 and 2025 protests.
Despite these formidable challenges, avenues for hope and reconciliation exist. A segment of the population retains optimism, with 34% of respondents believing the protests could lead to “some minor changes,” and 22% anticipating “significant changes”.
Crucially, six in ten young Kenyans, 61%, believe that things will improve in the coming year. This inherent resilience and optimism among the youth, even amidst profound frustration with the present, represents a powerful, albeit latent, force for positive transformation.
