NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) 鈥� Police in Kenya set up roadblocks on Thursday to prevent access to the capital, , ahead of a planned demonstration marking two years since at least 60 people died in that also saw protesters storming the parliament.
Families whose loved ones died in the 2024 protests have said they would protest the delay in justice for the victims. The government has been accused of a lack of transparency in an ongoing process to human rights abuses during the protests.
Last week, President said people would be allowed to protest, but the government would also protect the rights of children to go to school and workers to work, warning against any attempts by the demonstrators to 鈥渟hut down the country.鈥�
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said Wednesday that police would escort the protesters but warned that criminals disguised as protesters would not be allowed to infiltrate and raid businesses.
On Thursday morning, police erected roadblocks on all major highways around Nairobi, blocking motorists from accessing the city. Parliament buildings remained barricaded and businesses were closed.
Opposition leaders have backed the protests, calling for transparency in the government鈥檚 compensation program.
Several opposition figures 鈥� including former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, former Justice Minister Martha Karua, and former Chief Justice David Maraga 鈥� marched alongside activists and the families of the 2024 crackdown victims, laying wreaths at the barbed-wire barricades around Parliament on Thursday.
Nairobi police chief Issa Mohammud said the roadblocks around the capital were aimed at 鈥渟ieving out criminals鈥� and were not intended to prevent law-abiding citizens from entering the city. He confirmed the arrest of 鈥渟everal鈥� people and said the exact figures would be announced later.
For Edith Wanjiku, whose son , life has been difficult without her 19-year-old son.
鈥淲e鈥檝e really suffered emotionally for the last two years,鈥� she told The Associated Press.
Wanjiku said her family has yet to benefit from the compensation program although they have submitted all the required paperwork to the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
鈥淥nly two out of 10 families whose children were shot that day near Parliament have been compensated and we are wondering what criteria the government is using,鈥� she said.
During the June 2024 protests, thousands of young Kenyans stormed the parliament building, urging legislators to vote against a finance bill that had proposed an increase in taxes despite the rising cost of living.
Police opened fire outside the building, killing dozens of protesters.
Ruto last week said the government compensation represents 鈥渁 state acknowledgment that harm occurred鈥� and was not an 鈥渁dmission鈥� of guilt.
He also said the compensation was not the 鈥減rice of life, of pain or of loss,鈥� and that it should not be seen as a 鈥渞eward for violence or criminality鈥� in a country where violent protests are common.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
