“They Aimed to Kill”: BBC Unmasks Security Forces Behind Kenya’s Bloody Anti-Tax Protests
A damning BBC investigation has identified members of Kenya’s security forces responsible for the killing of unarmed protesters during last year’s anti-tax demonstrations in Nairobi. The revelations, based on analysis of over 5,000 images and videos, shed new light on the chaotic scenes that unfolded outside Parliament on 25 June 2024 — a day that would leave dozens dead and hundreds wounded.
The protests, largely driven by Kenya’s Gen Z population, erupted after the government introduced a controversial finance bill proposing steep tax hikes. Despite earlier concessions by lawmakers — including scrapping taxes on essential items like bread and sanitary towels — tensions remained high as Parliament prepared for a final vote.
According to the BBC Africa Eye investigation, protesters had begun gathering in central Nairobi early that morning, turning the city streets into a sea of flags, placards, and chants for justice. By midday, the crowd had swelled to more than 100,000. When news broke that the Finance Bill 2024 had passed, anger reached a boiling point. Protesters broke through barricades and briefly entered Parliament grounds.
It was during this chaotic period that violence escalated dramatically. Video footage shows a plain-clothed officer shouting “Uaa!” — a Swahili word meaning “kill” — before live rounds were fired into the crowd. Software engineer David Chege and butcher Ericsson Mutisya were among the first confirmed fatalities. Neither were armed.
The BBC used detailed visual analysis, including 3D reconstructions, to link the fatal shots directly to specific officers and soldiers deployed that day. One identified police officer — operating from Central Nairobi Police Station — allegedly fired into the crowd after being urged on by a colleague. Another fatal shot, which killed finance student Eric Shieni, was traced to a soldier positioned 25 meters away.
Despite public outrage and a directive for investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), no official report has been released, and no officers have been held accountable.
Legal experts are condemning the lack of action. Faith Odhiambo, president of the Law Society of Kenya, stated:
“The aim was to kill protesters. Shooting an unarmed man in the head is not law enforcement — it’s execution.”
The aftermath of the violence shook Kenya to its core. A total of 39 protesters lost their lives across the country, while at least 361 others sustained injuries. President William Ruto, initially defending the security forces’ actions against what he described as “organized criminals,” eventually bowed to public pressure and withdrew the finance bill the next day.
“Listening keenly to the people of Kenya, who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede,” Ruto said in a televised address.
However, nearly a year later, the victims’ families are still waiting for justice.
As Kenya continues to grapple with questions of police accountability, human rights, and the power of youth-led activism, the events of June 2024 remain a stark reminder of the high cost of democracy — and the resilience of those willing to defend it.
In other news:Cleophas Malala Drops Bombshell: Accuses UDA of Dodging Millions in Taxes
“They Aimed to Kill”: BBC Unmasks Security Forces Behind Kenya’s Bloody Anti-Tax Protests