Nine people were killed, about 400 injured and 61 arrested on Wednesday as at least 27 counties witnessed protests marking the first anniversary of the June 25, 2024, demonstrations that saw youth protesters storm Parliament.
According to the State-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, eight deaths were reported in 6 counties—all from gunshot wounds—with two in Machakos, two in Makueni, and one each in Kiambu, Nakuru and Nyandarua.
“Over 400 casualties have been reported, including demonstrators, police officers and journalists. Most of them were treated and discharged, 83 of them were referred for specialised treatment, eight with gunshot wounds,” said Dr Raymond Nyeris, the commission’s vice chairperson. The commission also reported “excessive use of force, including the use of rubber bullets, live ammunition and water cannons”.
Protesters drink water and wash off the sting of teargas on June 25, 2025.
Photo credit: Martin Mwaura | Nation
Last evening, Kenya Power confirmed the death of a security guard who was shot outside its premises in Nairobi.
“We are deeply saddened to report that Mr Fred Wamale Wanyonyi, a security guard stationed at our Stima Plaza headquarters, was fatally shot at the entrance of the building at 4.30pm Wednesday evening during the ongoing protests,” Kenya Power said. “Mr Wamale, an employee of Hatari Security, was on duty at the Kolobot Road entrance when the incident occurred. He was rushed to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.”
The figure promises to soar, with the Law Society of Kenya, Police Reforms Working Group and the Kenya Medical Association in a joint statement saying: “While these figures are confirmed by medics and human rights defenders, sadly, the exact figures may only be known in the course of time.”
“Three of the injured include police officers,” they added.
Pain, loss of life and grief gripped the country once more as Kenyans took to the streets to honour the 60 lives lost a year ago. The memory of their deaths cast a long shadow over a nation still searching for justice, with the additional losses stoking the flames of grief, anger, and renewed calls for accountability.
Ol Kalou Assistant County Commissioner's office set on fire by irate protesters.
Photo credit: Waikwa Maina | Nation
By last evening, the Kenyatta National Hospital had received 90 people with injuries from the protests, including gunshot wounds.
“We have received 90 casualties, and I know the number will go up. Our teams are working hard to stabilise all the patients, and take count of the injuries. No final breakdown yet,” a medic aware of the situation but barred from speaking to the media said.
It was a day of running battles as police were deployed heavily on the streets of the different towns, with the action mostly in Nairobi. The protests also rocked Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, Kajiado, Makueni, Machakos, Nyeri, Embu, Nyandarua, Murang’a, Laikipia and Meru. Others were Tharaka-Nithi, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Taita-Taveta, Kilifi, Lamu, Narok, Busia, Kisii, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Bungoma and Kericho.
The protests, amplified through social media platforms like X and TikTok, saw hashtags #SiriNiNumbers and #OccupyStatehouse2025 dominate online conversations, with #SiriNiNumbers ranking fourth among globally trending hashtags as of 8 pm on Wednesday, according to trends24, a website that tracks trending topics on Twitter. In all, the site said the hashtag was featured in 7.7 million tweets over a six-hour period.
Two people succumbed to gunshot wounds after police opened fire on protesters at Emali township, Makueni County. The head of Kilome Nursing Home Stan Mulei confirmed the deaths.
The two men who “had sustained gunshot wounds on their chests”, Dr Mulei said, were pronounced dead on arrival at the facility. They were part of youthful protesters who engaged the police in running battles in throughout the day.
Peaceful protests in Nyahururu town on June 25, 2025.
Photo credit: Waikwa Maina | Nation
The protesters barricaded the busy Mombasa-Nairobi highway using rocks and bonfires, paralysing transport services.
Two other people succumbed to gunshot wounds at the Matuu Sub-County Hospital and Matuu Mission Hospital in Machakos County. Matuu Sub-County Hospital administrator Julius Makau and the head of Matuu Mission Hospital, Sister Felistus Kasyoka, confirmed the deaths.
“Six of the patients have gunshot wounds. The man who succumbed had sustained abdominal gunshot wounds. The others have soft tissue injuries caused by other things. Three of the patients, who include a man who sustained a gunshot wound on the head, are in critical condition,” Mr Makau told the Nation.
The two were part of a group of protesters who had attempted to storm Matuu Police Station after blocking the Thika-Garissa road for the better part of the day. Witnesses said the youth pelted the police station with stones before officers opened fire.
The shooting fuelled tension between the police and the protesters, which saw officers from the Border Police Unit join anti-riot police officers in containing the demonstrators.
Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret City had, by 5 pm, received 13 patients with injuries sustained during the demonstrations.
The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Philip Kirwa, said the injuries were “mostly minor”.
“They are under evaluation and a majority will be discharged after medical attention,” he said.
In Nyandarua, the Ol Kalou Assistant County Commissioner's office was burnt down after a protester was killed. The victim was shot near Tower Sacco, opposite the Ol Kalou Police Station. The protesters took the victim to Ol Kalou JM Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Youth block the Nanyuki-Nyeri road on June 25, 2025.
Photo credit: Nation
The irate mob moved to the administrator’s office adjacent to the police station and burned the vehicles before burning the offices.
“They shot an unarmed protester, his only weapon was the Kenyan flag. They refused to take him to the hospital. We used a boda boda to take him to JM Hospital where he was pronounced dead,” said Michael Migua.
In Nyahururu town, several people were injured after the demonstrations were hijacked by tens of goons allegedly transported to the town on Tuesday evening.
“We were shocked that the government can bring goons from unknown places to attack innocent protesters. A number of innocent and peaceful protesters were injured by the police and goons. We demand investigations as to who hired the goons and why they worked hand in hand with the police,” said Mr Denis Ndereba, a youth leader in Laikipia County.
In Kiambu, a man was shot dead in Juja, with sub-county police boss Bernard Ngungu saying that he was part of the demonstrators who tried to storm Juja Police Station. “There is no evidence to support that he was killed by police but what I know is that there was a big group of protesters who were trying to raid Juja police station and it is hard for now to know who killed him,” he said.
A person was shot in the head in Karatina, while another one was shot in Nyeri town at the entrance of Naivas supermarket as police officers were trying to prevent looters from breaking into the building.
Reporting by Daniel Ogetta, Mike Yambo, Pius Maundu, Titus Ominde, Macharia Mwangi, Jared Nyataya, Simon Ciuri, Mercy Mwende, Stephen Munyiri, Waikwa Maina and George Munene.
