One year after the infamous 2024 Finance Bill protest, the streets of Nairobi once again echoed with the sounds of conflict as demonstrations swept across 23 counties. The protests, commemorating the victims of last year's police brutality, also demanded the resignation of Kenya's President amidst calls for justice for the slain blogger Albert Ojwang.

Early Wednesday morning, barricades sprang up along Parliament road—a site breached during last year's demonstrations—as well as major roads into Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD), effectively choked off by police deployments. By 7 am, anti-riot units were a visible force in Nairobi, with police lobbing teargas at peaceful demonstrators, a stark reminder of the previous year's violence.

Despite the constitutional right to protest enshrined in Article 37 of Kenya's Constitution, the day's events took a violent turn by midday. Casualties were reported across the country, including a female police officer attacked by protesters, a protester in Kitengela shot in the head, and a woman in Nairobi severely injured by a teargas canister.

In a controversial move, goons armed with clubs were seen alongside anti-riot police in Eldoret, the president's hometown, hinting at state complicity in the violence. The day's unrest resulted in two confirmed deaths in Nairobi, with further casualties feared as reports continued to come in.

Amidst the chaos, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) issued a directive to halt all live media coverage of the demonstrations, citing violations of constitutional articles relating to freedom of expression. This media blackout was swiftly met with legal challenges from local NGOs like the Katiba Institute and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, which accused the government of violating constitutional rights and previous court rulings that protected the right to protest.

As dusk fell, Amnesty International Kenya reported eight deaths from gunshot wounds and hundreds injured, with 83 requiring specialized treatment. In a late response, the High Court issued a temporary order against CAK's directive, allowing media coverage to continue pending a full hearing.

The violent events not only reignited the debate over police brutality and governmental accountability in Kenya but also led to significant economic damage, with numerous businesses in the CBD looted or destroyed.

As Kenya grapples with these ongoing challenges, the international community and local observers alike are left wondering how many more lives will be lost before true reform is realized.