One Year Later, Still Bleeding: Streets Filled with Gen Z’s Unfinished Fight

By Nyanza Emmanuel - On June 25, 2025, what began as a solemn tribute in Bungoma town turned into a day of rage, tears, and broken glass.

Citizens, students, boda boda riders, traders, and community activists, gathered to mark one year since the deadly June 2024 protests, where more than 60 young Kenyans were killed while opposing the controversial Finance Bill. What was meant to be a peaceful commemoration quickly turned violent.

Clad in black and filled with defiant energy, marchers in Bungoma sought to honor the fallen Gen Z protesters and renew their call for justice. But when they attempted to access the County Assembly grounds, the police responded with force. Teargas choked the air. Live rounds cracked through the streets. The air turned thick with fear and fury.

A young man was reportedly shot in the chaos, another life lost on a day meant to remember others. Police said investigations are underway to determine if live fire was used appropriately, but the crowd had already been scattered. Dozens were left injured. Many were rushed to local health centers as the town square filled with sirens, screams, and smoke.

“This was supposed to be a day of remembrance, not another funeral,” said one protestor, still coughing from teargas.

Bungoma’s bustling town centre fell silent. Shopkeepers shuttered their stalls. Bus stops emptied. Public transport was paralyzed for hours. Traders spoke of losses running into tens of thousands of shillings. “We sell perishable goods. With no customers and transport stalled, everything spoiled,” said Catherine, a market vendor.

Shop windows were smashed, some reportedly by police, others by unknown individuals in the stampede. County Assembly fencing was ripped down. Roadside stalls were torched. Nearby schools and a technical college suspended classes, leaving exam candidates distressed and uncertain.

But Bungoma was not alone.

Across Kenya, thousands poured into the streets, remembering the 2024 fallen and resisting the growing climate of repression. From Nairobi to Kisii, Eldoret to Mombasa, black-clad protesters raised their voices again.

In Nairobi, the city centre turned into a flashpoint. Protesters defied barricades near Parliament, chanting “Ruto Must Go!” and “Reject Finance Bill!” Armored police vehicles rolled in. Teargas filled the air. One protester yelled, “They want us to fear, but we are not afraid,” as others banged metal signs and lit bonfires.

Former Chief Justice David Maraga joined the marchers and condemned the use of force. “These people are peaceful,” he told reporters. “All they want is to be heard.”

In Eldoret, protests turned tense as demonstrators clashed with goons wielding clubs. Police formed a human barrier on Oginga Odinga Street, but not before shops closed and stones blocked Namanga Road. 

In Mombasa, demonstrators began their day with a mass at the ACK Cathedral before marching through Moi Avenue. Holding placards and chanting the names of the dead, they brought traffic to a standstill.

In Kisii, tyres burned and roads were barricaded. Running battles with police lasted for hours. In Ruiru, Kitengela, Nyeri, Matuu, and Makueni, similar scenes played out, bonfires, roadblocks, and heavy police presence. Kisumu remained mostly calm.

According to Amnesty International and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, at least 16 people were killed nationwide during the June 25, 2025 protests. Another 400 people were injured, including journalists, police officers, and protesters. Many suffered gunshot wounds, rubber bullet injuries, or were beaten during the clashes.

Kenya’s Citizen TV reported that protesters torched court facilities in Kikuyu. There were reports of police blocking major roads and government buildings barricaded with razor wire. The government even ordered TV and radio stations to halt live coverage of the protests.

Among the demonstrators was Eve, a 24-year-old said: “I’ve come here as a Kenyan youth to protest. It is our right, for the sake of our fellow Kenyans who were killed last year. The police are supposed to protect us, but they kill us.”

Angel Mbuthia, chair of the opposition Jubilee Party’s youth league, added: “It is extremely important that the young people mark June 25th because they lost people who look like them, who speak like them… who are fighting for good governance.”

Public outrage has also intensified over the recent killing of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old blogger and teacher who died in police custody after criticizing a senior officer. Six people, including three police officers, have since been charged with murder.

Yet many say justice remains elusive.

Civil society leaders, clergy, and Members of Parliament have condemned the violence. Bishop Calistus Barasa of Bungoma called it “a divisive and damaging misuse of force that has paralyzed both transport and commerce.”

The embassies of the U.S., U.K., Canada, and others issued a joint statement calling for peaceful demonstrations and accountability. “The use of plain clothed officers in unmarked vehicles erodes public trust,” it read.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that any violations by police would be addressed through official institutions, stating that diplomatic relations must be grounded in mutual respect.

But for many Kenyans, especially the youth, such words ring hollow. Since the 2024 protests, over 80 government critics have disappeared, according to rights groups. Dozens remain missing. 

Despite President Ruto’s previous promise to end such abductions, he appeared unapologetic in a speech on Tuesday, warning protesters not to threaten the police.

Back in Bungoma, the mood is one of fear and defiance. Traders speak of fewer customers, interrupted supply deliveries, and slashed earnings. Young people feel betrayed and targeted.

“This was a moment for reflection and healing,” said a university student. “But the state chose violence over dialogue, again.”

Analysts now warn that continued repression and unaddressed grievances could further damage Kenya’s political and economic stability. The wounds of 2024 are far from healed, and with 16 more lives lost, the scars are only deepening.

Across Kenya, one message echoed in every chant, every raised placard, every tear-filled eye: “We are not here for violence. We are here for justice. For the future they died for.”

And in that spirit, the black-clad marchers of June 25 stood tall, not just to mourn, but to remind the nation: We will not forget. We will not stop.