Kenya protest killings: 2024 Finance Bill and after
Beginning in June 2024, largely youth-led Kenya protests against the Finance Bill and later against police conduct and cost of living moved through Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and other cities. Human-rights organisations documented deaths, injuries, arrests and abduction allegations. This page is a sober summary of what has been reported.
What has been publicly reported
- KNCHR recorded dozens of protest-related deaths across successive waves of protests in 2024–2025 (figures published at different reporting dates should not be combined).
- IPOA opened investigations into police conduct at several protest sites, including in and around Parliament on 25 June 2024.
- BBC Africa Eye's investigation, 'Blood Parliament', used videos, photographs and open-source analysis to examine the shootings around Parliament on 25 June 2024.
- Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch documented the use of live ammunition and reported cases of enforced disappearance.
- Accountability processes — internal police inquiries, IPOA investigations, ODPP charging decisions and court proceedings — are ongoing.
The Conyan version of a protest response
- Peaceful assembly is fully protected — behind the barricade.
- Live-ammunition use is investigated by the office that authorised it.
- Rooftop shooters are described as an unofficial ceremonial detail.
- Injured demonstrators are asked to stop politicising their injuries.
- The Interior Ministry issues a statement of deep concern about the concerns being raised.
Named-officer allegations and case-by-case fatality narratives are only added to this page after they can be sourced to court filings, IPOA reports or credible investigative journalism.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were killed?
Figures vary by reporting date and organisation. KNCHR, IPOA, Amnesty and HRW have each published dated tallies; combining figures from different dates as one total is incorrect.
Who is legally responsible?
That is a matter for IPOA investigations, ODPP charging decisions and the courts. This page does not attribute criminal responsibility to any named individual.