By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, June 25, 2026 - Opposition leaders on Thursday marched through Nairobi's Central Business District to Parliament Buildings in commemoration of those who lost their lives during the June 25, 2024 anti-government protests, as demonstrators renewed calls for justice and accountability.
The procession was led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Kisumu Governor James Orengo, DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa, activist Boniface Mwangi, and other political figures and civil society leaders. The leaders locked arms as they walked through the city, describing the march as a tribute to what they termed the "fallen heroes" of last year's protests.
Governor Orengo made a dramatic entry into the Nairobi CBD aboard a boda boda before joining fellow leaders and demonstrators.
Among those participating in the march was Jacinta Anyango, the mother of 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango, who was killed during the 2024 anti-government demonstrations. Accompanied by opposition leaders, she said her presence at the protest was motivated by the pursuit of justice for her son.
"We want justice. I just want to see the person who killed my child. I am not even saying they should be jailed," she said.
Anyango dismissed calls for compensation, insisting that accountability was more important.
"I want those who killed my son to be brought to justice, not compensation," she added.
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Activist Boniface Mwangi said the demonstrators were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly while demanding accountability from the authorities.
"We are marching to Parliament in peace. We demand justice, accountability, and protection," Mwangi said.
The demonstrations took place amid heightened security across Nairobi, with police maintaining a heavy presence in several parts of the city. Officers lobbed tear gas to disperse groups of protesters in some areas, leading to running battles between police and demonstrators.
Police also carried out arrests in different parts of Nairobi as security agencies sought to contain the protests.
In Githurai, suspected criminals reportedly took advantage of the unrest to steal from members of the public, prompting police officers on motorcycles, commonly known as boda bodas, to intervene.
Despite sporadic confrontations in Nairobi, several parts of the country remained calm, including Kisumu, a city historically associated with opposition-led protests.
In Kondele, a neighbourhood that has previously been a hotspot during anti-government demonstrations, residents adopted a different approach. By around 9:30 a.m., youths were lining up to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election, even as Governor Orengo participated in demonstrations in Nairobi.
Meanwhile, much of Nairobi's CBD remained largely deserted, with many businesses closed and residents opting to stay away amid fears of clashes between protesters and security officers.
The June 25 demonstrations were organised to commemorate the anniversary of the 2024 Gen Z-led protests, which resulted in deaths, injuries, and widespread calls for accountability over the use of force by security agencies.