An anti-riot police officer chases protestors on Ronald Ngala Street, Nairobi, on June 25, 2025.
Police officers on Wednesday defied court orders as they engaged protesters in running battles in more than half—at least 25—of Kenya’s 47 counties that came out to mark the one-year anniversary of the June 25 protests that saw angry youth breach Parliament over a punitive tax law.
From concealing their identities by wearing hoods and masks, operating while dressed in civilian clothes and lack of name tags, the ruthless officers even used live bullets on the protesters most of whom were carrying flags.
In addition, the officers also restricted protests in certain areas which is also unconstitutional.
The protests were organised by Gen Z youths in remembrance to the deaths of fellow youths who were on June 25, 2024 killed during the anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. On that day, the protesters even stormed the Kenyan parliament.
In August 2024, the High Court barred Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja from deploying officers in civilian clothes or those who have concealed their identities.
An anti-riot police aims a tear gas launcher at protesters in Nakuru City on June 25, 2025.
Justice Bahati Mwamunye ruled that all police officers assigned to handle demonstrations should be identifiable at all times.
“A declaration is hereby issued that any law enforcement officer deployed to maintain law and order during an assembly, demonstration, or picketing must be in uniform and shall not, in any way, conceal their identity, including by obscuring their face, so as to remain unidentifiable,” ordered the Judge.
The main reason it was ordered that the officers remain identifiable was to uphold accountability and was also a way of members of the public gaining trust in officers attached to the National Police Service (NPS).
Finance Bill protests
During the anti-finance bill protests, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) moved to court as it challenged the manner in which the police were handling the protesters. This was stirred by the June 18, 2024, death of Rex Masai who was fatally shot by the police along Moi Avenue.
In various place across Kenya, Nation observed police officers in civilian clothes.
On Thika Road, one was spotted by the Nation issuing teargas canisters to armed officers. He was dressed in a checked shirt, a jeans trouser and was in slippers making it hard to be identified as an officer.
In the city, there was a police land cruiser that was full of police officers dressed as civilians who were shooting at protesters.
Read: Opposition, civil society pile pressure for action against rogue officers who killed protestors
Most of the police vehicles that were making rounds in the city had their registration numbers concealed and the names of the stations they are attached to as well concealed using black masking tape.
Some officers were also moving around in private cars as a way of camouflaging so as not easily identified.
According to Judge Mwamunye, the conduct of police officers on the day Masai died was wanting. He also said that the police did not have any right to make arrests during protests.
“The conduct of police officers unmasked and in uniform who carried out unlawful arrests of individuals exercising their right to picket under Article 37 of the Constitution amounted to a violation of those individuals’ rights,” Justice Mwamuye said.
The court found that officers deployed on that day acted unlawfully and violated constitutional protections.
According to the Judge the police officers are expected to provide protection to the protesters whenever they are out to demonstrate.
In addition to defying court orders, the officers within the Central Business District (CBD) in Nairobi were assaulting the protesters using clubs.
Police lob teargas canisters to disperse a crowd at Roysambu roundabout, Nairobi, on June 25, 2025.
One protester was assaulted by over four uniformed police officers right outside the Nation Center. The officers have been cautioned against using extra force on protesters but they have kept on ignoring the calls.
Using excessive force
This is despite the fact that some of their colleagues are in court for using excessive force on protesters and also being careless when using firearms.
Other officers also went rogue and targeted people who used their phones to capture them as they assaulted protesters.
One bodaboda rider identified as Amos Mulubi told the Nation that the police officers who spotted him taking a video using his phone assaulted him. They also went away with the phone and his wallet.
The officers were also throwing teargas canisters into crowds of people which is also against the manufacturers of the teargas company.
Police threw smoke projectiles to the protesters against the warnings on the same devices.
“Do not fire directly at person (s) as serious injury or death could occur,” a warning on one of the smoke projectiles reads.
Other warnings include; it is supposed to be used only by law enforcement and qualified personnel trained in riot control tactics, do not use in any manner if this device has been subjected to poor storage conditions or stored longer than five years from the date of manufacture.
The device should also be kept from exposure to sun and rain. Also, it should be used for outdoor duties as it has the potential to fire.
Despite the clear warnings by the manufacturers the police officers still went ahead and threw the canisters towards protesters.
One of the protesters at Archives Area within the CBD lost his arm as a teargas canister exploded on him. His fellow demonstrators rushed him to hospital.
