June 25 Protest Aftermath: Shattered Dreams, Stolen Millions, and Mounting Casualties

Nairobi’s Central Business District woke up to silence—not the peaceful kind, but the kind that follows chaos. Shattered glass glistened beneath the blood-stained pavement.

Yesterday’s chants of resistance have faded, leaving behind the eerie hum of brooms, broken storefronts, and a city forced to reckon with what it has become.

The June 25th nationwide protests meant to commemorate lives lost during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations, spiraled into one of the most chaotic and violent days in Kenya’s recent history.

Businesses were looted businesses were looted and torched in areas like Nairobi, Nyeri, Nakuru, and Thika. ATMs in areas like Githurai were vandalized, with one reported theft of KSh 1.2 million. Supermarkets, shops, and buildings were set ablaze in towns across the country—including sections of Kikuyu, Makongeni, and Ol Kalou, where even police stations did not escape the rage of protestors.

The vandalism of police stations and government vehicles during the protests sparked a wave of mixed reactions across social platforms. Kenyans shared their conflicting viewpoints—some condemning the destruction, others defending it as a response to unchecked police brutality.

Sumbai KE:

"I stand with the police. Yesterday’s protests turned violent across the country, leading to tragic loss of life, numerous injuries, and widespread destruction. That’s not the way to be heard."

But others challenged that narrative.

Kaithi Williams:

"I don’t support violence or destruction—but this police station was burned down after officers shot an unarmed, peaceful protester. If you shoot at people peacefully demanding justice, what reaction do you expect?"

But the material damage pales in comparison to the human cost.

As per hospital and media reports, at least 16 people were killed across the country, with over 400 others injured—many of them the result of police brutality. Shocking videos showed officers firing live rounds, deploying tear gas, and assaulting civilians. Eyewitnesses spoke of protestors shot at point-blank range. Among the dead: students, boda boda riders, and even bystanders.

This wasn’t just a protest. It was a cry of desperation met with a thunderous silence from the very institutions meant to protect and serve.

What began as a peaceful movement to remember the past turned into a mirror reflecting the present: a nation fraying at the seams, where broken systems meet boiling rage.