• At least 16 people have died in protests marking the anniversary of last year's anti-tax demonstrations.
• The protests erupted over police brutality, government corruption, and economic hardship.
• Authorities accused protesters of attempting a coup amid rising tensions and violence.
• Heavy police presence and media blackouts were reported during the unrest.
• Younger generations have taken to social media to mobilize and express frustrations over governance.

Kenya has witnessed a tragic escalation in protests commemorating the one-year anniversary of deadly anti-tax demonstrations, with the death toll rising to at least 16 individuals during the unrest. Reports indicate that protests began peacefully but erupted into violence, as demonstrators clashed with police across multiple cities, particularly in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisii, echoing the deadly protests of June 25, 2024, when more than 60 people lost their lives due to similar clashes, according to Al Jazeera, Africanews, and AllAfrica.

The protests were driven by a combination of factors, including rising living costs, corruption, police brutality, and the recent death of blogger Albert Ojwang while in custody. In response, many young Kenyans took to the streets, chanting slogans such as “Ruto Must Go” and calling for governmental reforms and police accountability, according to India Times and SCMP.

Despite the protests initially being termed as peaceful gatherings, government officials later condemned them as “terrorism disguised as dissent.” Kipchumba Murkomen, the Interior Minister, asserted that police acted with "remarkable restraint" and accused demonstrators of attempting a coup against the regime, which was met with backlash from human rights organizations calling for accountability, as reported by BBC and India Times.

As of recent reports, hospitals across the country are treating hundreds of injured individuals, many suffering from gunshot wounds inflicted by police during crowd dispersal efforts. The urgency surrounding these protests is further compounded by the government's efforts to limit media coverage, which sparked widespread criticism from press freedom advocates and international observers, according to LA Times and Africanews.

With thousands taking to social media to organize and vocalize their demands, the ongoing protests signify a critical juncture in Kenya’s political landscape, as younger generations assert their call for justice and reforms in governance, echoing a broader call for change within a nation grappling with economic and political discontent, according to TRT Global and AllAfrica.