Wamuzi News Ke
July 2024. It began with hashtags. It ended with funerals. What started as a youth-led digital protest against oppressive tax laws turned into one of the bloodiest episodes in Kenya’s post-independence history. Now, almost a year later, the screams of that month still echo in alleys, mortuaries, and the memory of a shaken nation.
This is not a story for clicks. It’s a record for the generations to come. Remember how it was.
From TikTok to Trenches: The Birth of #RejectFinanceBill2024
On June 18, 2024, Gen Z Kenyans took to the streets—mobilized by content creators, students, and unemployed youth, angry over the Finance Bill 2024, which introduced tax hikes on essentials: fuel, bread, motor vehicles, mobile transactions, diapers, and sanitary pads. What fueled the fire? No political affiliation. No tribal rhetoric. Just raw, collective rage.
Placards read “We are not your slaves” and “We demand dignity, not debt.”
It was peaceful. Until it wasn’t.
The Day Parliament Burned – June 25, 2024
At exactly 4:31 PM, protestors breached the Parliament compound in Nairobi after MPs passed the controversial bill. What followed was a chilling display of state power.
“I saw a boy fall. There was no sound, just the thud. When we rushed to him, he was shot in the neck,” – Eyewitness, Kencom Bus Stop.
Amnesty International later confirmed that police used live ammunition. That day, 19 people died in Nairobi alone. Others succumbed to injuries in Kisumu, Nakuru, and Mombasa. Makeshift hospitals were overwhelmed. Red Cross volunteers were targeted by tear gas.
The Disappearances That Followed
The government responded with what it called “restoration of order.” But what really happened?
In Mathare, Kibra, and Kayole, plainclothes men in unmarked vans began abducting young protestors at night. The Kenya Human Rights Commission and Defenders Coalition documented over 50 enforced disappearances. Parents would wake up to empty beds and muted phones.
“My son left to demonstrate with a flag. We haven’t seen him in 11 months,” – Mother, Embakasi.
Smoke That Choked
Multiple protesters and medics reported a new type of tear gas used during the July 2nd and July 4th confrontations in Nairobi and Eldoret. Victims exhibited hallucinations, fainting, and severe breathing difficulty. Doctors described chemical burns in lungs, suggesting high-grade agents not meant for crowd control.
No official investigation has been launched.
Blackouts, M-Pesa Jams & the Digital War
During peak protest hours, many in Kakamega, Bungoma, and Nakuru experienced M-Pesa outages, sudden banking app failures, and WhatsApp call blocks. Tech experts say this was a coordinated disruption aimed at weakening real-time mobilization.
“We were organizing a march, then all our comms went dead. For an hour. That wasn’t coincidence,” – University activist, Kisii.
Media Under Siege
Journalists weren’t spared. One photojournalist lost his eye to a rubber bullet. Multiple others were chased off scenes, equipment seized. NTV, Citizen TV, and BBC correspondents faced physical attacks while covering the protests.
Still, Kenyans documented everything—through phones, livestreams, and bravery.
The Human Cost
- 39 confirmed dead (unofficial toll is much higher)
- Over 361 injured — many permanently disabled
- More than 283 arrests — some with no charges or court appearances
- Dozens still missing as of June 2025
One protestor’s final Tweet read: “If I die, let my blood water the tree of our freedom.” His body was found in the Ngong Forest three days later.
State Reaction: Silence and Delay
President Ruto withdrew the Finance Bill after the bloodshed. But accountability was absent. Police IG Japheth Koome denied knowledge of extrajudicial actions. By January 2025, Reuters exposed efforts by authorities to cover up protest-related killings—reclassifying them as “accidents” or “mob violence.”
No one has been charged. No apology given.
A Nation Changed Forever
What Kenya witnessed in July 2024 was not just protest. It was a civil awakening. An unarmed generation rose against oppression. What they faced was fear, fire, and forgotten justice.
“This wasn’t just about taxes. It was about being seen. Being heard. Being Kenyan.” – Activist, Mombasa.
Remember How It Was
- The flags that turned red
- The boys who never came home
- The silence after gunfire
- The truth that fought to be heard
This is your history. Don’t let it be erased.
