Protesters Breach State House Road in Historic Gen Z-Led March

A large crowd gathered along State House Road in Nairobi, marking a dramatic climax to a day of Gen Z-led protests that have seen confrontations with police and breaches of secured areas.

Thousands of protesters, initially blocked from accessing the road leading to State House, managed to push past security barricades and now occupy the area. The marchers had assembled earlier at Uhuru Park before surging past police cordons in an attempt to reach the heavily guarded presidential residence.

The demonstrators, largely mobilised via social media platforms, had vowed to access State House as part of the June 25 commemorations — a date marking the anniversary of last year’s deadly anti-government protests, in which over 60 people lost their lives.

Despite a strong deployment of anti-riot police in the area, protesters successfully accessed State House Road — a first in the history of modern demonstrations in Kenya. In 2024, protesters had similarly breached the Parliament precincts, highlighting the growing momentum of youth-led resistance.

The area around State House is classified as a protected zone, and access without official clearance is prohibited under Kenyan law.

Police Caution and Legal Warnings

Ahead of the protests, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja issued a firm warning, reminding citizens that while peaceful demonstrations are constitutionally protected, any action violating public order laws would not be tolerated.

“Kenyans have a right to picket, but this must be done in public areas. Any contrary conduct constitutes an unlawful and riotous assembly,” Kanja stated.

“The National Police Service shall at all times lawfully and firmly prevent any breach of peace by any group or groups of persons acting contrary to the law. Additionally, unauthorised persons must refrain from accessing protected areas under the Protected Areas Act (Cap 204, Laws of Kenya),” he added.

Kanja also urged members of the public not to provoke law enforcement officers as they carried out their duties.

Protesters’ Demands and Political Support

The Gen Z demonstrators say the protests are about more than symbolism — they are demanding justice, transparency, and reform. Their grievances include oppressive taxation, corruption, poor governance, and the underfunding of public universities.

In a show of solidarity, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i backed the protests, calling for restraint from law enforcement and cautioning that the excessive use of force would only worsen the crisis.

“The use of force will only escalate the situation,” Matiang’i warned, urging security agencies to respect the constitutional rights of protesters.