Police in Kenya have sealed off key roads leading into central Nairobi ahead of planned nationwide protests marking two years since deadly Gen-Z-led anti-government demonstrations.
Protesters say they are demanding justice for more than 80 people killed and dozens more injured during the 2024 anti-tax demonstrations and anniversary protests last year.
There have been pockets of clashes between police and protesters, with security forces firing tear gas and demonstrators throwing stones in some areas.
But central Nairobi is deserted after security forces blocked access, stranding commuters on the city’s outskirts, while many businesses and schools remained closed.
The planned protests, largely mobilised through social media platforms, are expected to take place in major towns including Nairobi, Mombasa and parts of central Kenya.
In Nairobi, opposition leaders led by Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa joined families of the victims to march to parliament, where they laid wreaths in honour of those who died during the 2024 demonstrations.
In June 2024, tens of thousands of Kenyans protested against proposed tax hikes, culminating in the storming of parliament and the eventual withdrawal of the controversial finance bill.
But the security forces were accused of using excessive force, with a BBC investigation finding that police had deliberately tried to kill protesters.
In the days that followed, dozens of people were reportedly abducted, allegedly by members of the security forces. Some were later found badly beaten, while others were found dead, fuelling concerns over enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
