Over the past year, Kenya has experienced significant social and political upheaval. Beginning in June 2024, mass protests led mainly by the country’s youth attracted attention both on the domestic and international stage. Driven by dissatisfaction with government policies, particularly surrounding tax hikes and austerity measures, these protests have become a focal point reflecting broader global tensions. The Kenyan government under President William Ruto has met this popular discontent with increasingly repressive measures aimed at stifling opposition and dissent, including abductions and extrajudicial killings.
The Genesis of Protest
As with many African countries and the wider Global South, Kenya has long been subject to the economic policies imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These policies often demand strict practices of austerity, such as tax hikes, service privatization, and reductions in social spending, which have resulted in a marked decrease in the well-being and security of the working class. In Kenya, it is the youth who have felt the impact most acutely. The injustice brought by these policies became particularly pronounced in June and July of 2024, when widespread protests broke out in response to a finance bill pushed forward by Ruto and his government, which, among other things, imposed new tax hikes aimed at raising funds to pay off debt.
This finance bill, dubbed Finance Bill 2024, was proposed after an unlikely alliance was formed between Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza (Kenya First) coalition and Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The ODM has long been positioned as the main opposition party in Kenya, with Odinga himself running unsuccessfully in five different elections, each time claiming fraud. This alliance thus suggests a shift in the political dynamics of the country, with both parties seeking to consolidate power and maintain the status quo at the expense of the common people of Kenya.
At the centre of the ensuing protests were the youth, who have consistently been relegated to the margins of Kenyan society by the political elite. On June 18, in a directed effort to challenge the austerity measures, the protesters, mostly from working-class neighbourhoods like Kibera and Githurai, took to the streets of Nairobi and other major cities. These demonstrations highlighted a demand for economic justice and an end to the exploitation of the masses, as well as a call for a political shift towards a more inclusive and popular government. By the end of June, the protests had succeeded in their struggle against the finance bill, with Ruto forced to reject it following the storming of the Kenyan parliament by protesters. Despite this, protests continued into early August with calls for Ruto’s resignation.
The Government’s Response
Throughout the protests, the Kenyan government utilized tactics of repression that recalled the darkest days in the nation’s history. Security forces were deployed to disperse crowds of protesters, often using live ammunition in the process, and the violence was not limited to crowd control. In the subsequent months, reports of widespread abductions, torture, and killings done on behalf of the Ruto administration began circulating. According to Human Rights Watch, as well as a number of local Kenyan human rights organizations, protesters and activists were forcibly seized by plainclothes officers and, in some cases, later found dead. The Ruto government has pledged investigations into these incidents, yet it has thus far failed to deliver on these promises.
The goal of the Kenyan state is apparent: crush resistance through fear. By September 2024, over 100 protesters were reported missing, alongside others found dead under mysterious circumstances, with the actual numbers likely to be significantly higher. These disappearances continued well after the conclusion of the initial protests, with witnesses describing abductions carried out by individuals in plain clothes using unmarked vehicles alongside officers wielding firearms. Notable cases that drew attention were the targeting of political figures and activists. In January 2025, Booker Omole, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Kenya, who had played an active role in the protests, survived an assassination attempt. This event was interpreted by many as a targeted move by the state to silence a growing opposition. Omole’s case is just one example of the increasing vulnerability of political activists in Kenya, raising vital questions about the state’s role in suppressing political opposition.
Alongside the domestic context, the protests and subsequent state oppression cannot be separated from the broader geopolitical context. Kenya has long been a key ally of the United States, especially in matters of counterterrorism. This alliance has allowed Kenya to bolster its security apparatus at the expense of human rights. The crackdown on protesters, activists, and political opponents has drawn comparisons to the methods used by other regimes that benefit from U.S. support, such as Saudi Arabia and Israel. Additionally, Kenya’s political elite has found common cause with authoritarian leaders in Uganda and Rwanda, further consolidating their grip on power in the region. As President Ruto navigates his relationship with these leaders, he is clearly willing to embrace increasingly repressive tactics in order to maintain control domestically.
A Broader Struggle for Justice and Reform
Though the resistance had quieted throughout the second half of 2024, with the revelations regarding the actions taken by security forces, it appears as though the flames have been reignited. Kenyans have once again taken to the streets demanding the release of people they claim have been abducted and remain extrajudicially held, also calling for increased state accountability and transparency. The renewed protests are still fresh and have similarly been met with repression on the part of security forces, yet despite this, the country’s youth remains vigilant in the face of repression.
The protests in Kenya are representative of larger global trends against austerity, inequality, and repression. As Kenya’s youth continue to demand justice and reform, their struggle resonates far beyond their home country. The events in Kenya are intrinsically connected to broader movements in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, where some governments are increasingly turning to authoritarian measures to maintain control over restive populations. Already, we have seen protests arise in other countries, such as Uganda and the DRC, inspired by the youth of Kenya.
The question that remains is whether these protests will lead to meaningful change or if the Kenyan government will successfully suppress them through violence and intimidation. What is clear is that the stakes are high, not just for Kenya but for the entire region. As the Kenyan people continue to fight for their rights, they are not just challenging their government but a global system that perpetuates inequality and political repression.
Edited by Shihun Lee
This is an article written by a Staff Writer. Catalyst is a student-led platform that fosters engagement with global issues from a learning perspective. The opinions expressed above do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication.
Alexander Morris-Schwarz is a third-year student at McGill University where he is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Communication Studies. Alexander is currently a staff writer for Catalyst and he is interested in international relations and imperialism.