June 25 protests: Paralysis, eight dead as State switches off TV stations
By Mathew Ndungu and Gastone Valusi, June 26, 2025At least eight people were shot dead and scores of others left with gunshot wounds on a day that the government shut down major television stations as youthful protesters engaged police in day-long running battles in various towns.
The Law Society of Kenya, in a statement on June 25, 2025, said eight protesters had been shot dead and 400 treated for injuries.
Business and transport operations remained paralysed in at least 20 counties across the country, with towns such as Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, Thika, Nyeri, Machakos, Busia, Bungoma, Kitui and Trans Nzoia bearing the brunt of the protests.
One person was shot dead in Yatta sub-county, Machakos, after police opened fire on anti-government protesters, while several others sustained gunshot wounds after protesters attempted to storm Matuu police station.
A Form Four student was among those tragically shot during the Gen Z demonstrations in Molo town, Nakuru County, in an incident that has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over police use of force.
Denis Njuguna Ngugi, a student at Njenga Karume Secondary School, was fatally shot along the Molo–Elburgon road as police officers clashed with protesters. The 17-year-old reportedly found himself caught in the chaos as police attempted to disperse demonstrators.
According to eyewitnesses, the situation escalated quickly when security officers opened fire to quell the crowd. In the ensuing confrontation, two other individuals sustained gunshot wounds and are currently fighting for their lives at Molo Level 4 Hospital.
Dashed hopes
Denis’ family members expressed deep shock and grief over the loss of their son, describing him as a bright student with dreams of becoming an engineer.
“He had just a few months left before sitting for his final exam. Now he’s gone because of a bullet,” said a tearful relative outside the hospital mortuary.
Another Form Two student at Turi Sulgwita was shot in the leg during the protest.
Sources at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) intimated to the People Daily that the facility had received at least 11 people with gunshot wounds by 4 pm.
After Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja directed the county medical team to provide services to protestors, the Nairobi County medical team, together with the Kenya Medical Association, attended to 500 casualties who were treated on site and discharged.
Some 57 were referred to KNH and Mbagathi referral hospitals.
In Nairobi, it was a day full of ugly scenes and total paralysis as police engaged protesters in running battles when the protesters attempted to force their way into the Central Business District (CBD) and State House.
Chanting “Ruto must go,” thousands of the youthful protesters flooded Nairobi’s streets and turned the day that had been scheduled to commemorate last year’s bloodbath by the police into calls for President Ruto’s resignation.
At one time, the youthful protesters appeared to have outnumbered police around Globe roundabout to push their way through University Way with their eyes on storming Central police station before subsequently moving towards State House Road.
They, however, were repulsed by the security team, following a quick reinforcement.
Last evening, another group of protesters attempted to march to the State House but were repulsed around State House Girls Secondary School.
Protesters lit bonfires, barricaded roads, and engaged police in running battles as they attempted to march to key government installations, including State House and Parliament.
Business operations in the entire CBD, as well as transport in all parts of the city, remained paralysed on a day that the government shut down television stations, apparently for airing the protests live.
In a strongly-worded letter, Communications Authority Director General David Mugonyi invoked powers under the Kenya Information and Communications Act to caution broadcasters against what he termed “contravention of constitutional and regulatory provisions”.
By last evening, the government made good their threat and switched off major television stations, including Mediamax’s K24 and Kameme TV, NTV, Citizen and Standard Group’s KTN.
All offices, both government and privately-owned shops, eateries and bars remained closed with employees being advised to remain in their residences.
Members of the National Assembly who had attempted to put on a brave face and continue with their day’s sitting were forced to cut short the procession and leave the parliamentary precincts in haste.
Earlier in the morning, police had barricaded all the entry points to Parliament and used razor wire to seal off the precincts.
Several opposition leaders, among them Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka and Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAK)’s Eugene Wamalwa, laid wreaths on the razor wire.
In parliament, the morning session was adjourned at around 11:45 am, well ahead of the usual 1 pm break, after Speaker Moses Wetang’ula cited a lack of quorum with the MPs being advised by the parliamentary security orderlies to leave the precincts immediately in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year’s June 25 incident.
Police had erected police road blocks at all entry points into the CBD, with Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) being allowed to drop off passengers’ kilometres away.
Battle zones
Travellers along Thika road were dropped off near Guru Nanak hospital, those on Mombasa Road at Nyayo stadium, while those from Jogoo road had to disembark at City Stadium. Later, police revised the road blocks to more points further from town.
The government also stepped up surveillance, with police mounting roadblocks around sensitive installations, including State House, following online calls for a symbolic march to State House as part of yesterday’s commemorations.
Major roads such as Thika superhighway, Jogoo, Outer Ring, Mombasa, Ngong, and Juja road were turned into battle zones as police engaged with the daring protesters.
Thika Road, normally characterised by heavy traffic snarl-ups especially during rush hour, was spookily clear for most of the day as young Kenyans trooped to the streets in protest against killings, abductions, political exclusion, poverty, inequalities and unemployment.
Hundreds of protesters emerged in groups and turned the six-lane highway into a fiery stage for their grievances over the rising cost of living and what they term state-sponsored injustice.
Motorists who had enjoyed the rare free-flowing tarmac were forced to use alternative routes towards Witeithie and Juja.
For a moment, the highway looked clear again, but a large group of youths burst from the Thika fly-over, donning flags and having phones, chanting “One-Term!” and Wametuzoea (They’re taking us for granted).
Furious, the protesters descended on the contingent of officers who had retreated, hurling stones at their vehicle and forcing them to scramble inside and withdraw.
With law-enforcers in retreat, protesters claimed the tarmac as a playground with some beginning to play football as others stretched out for selfies on the warm road.
“We are exercising our constitutional right to assemble. Life has become unbearable. Look at food, fuel, and even rent. Until those in power listen and the youths killed during last year’s anti-Finance Bill rallies receive justice,” stated James Murimi, one of the protesters.
John Mureithi, another protester, insisted that the cause was worth dying for.
Yesterday’s confrontation is the latest flare-up in a year-long youth-led movement that began with nationwide marches against the Finance Bill on June 25, 2024.
The demonstrations have evolved from tax-focused anger into a broader indictment of governance, inequality and police brutality- driven by social-media mobilisation.