With the memory of last year’s deadly anti-Finance Bill protests still raw, Kenya’s government on Wednesday released a set of rules meant to guide demonstrators as thousands poured into the streets to mark the first anniversary of the unrest.

The Ministry of Interior published a list of dos and don’ts just hours before fresh protests took hold across major cities, from Nairobi to Mombasa and Kisii. The move, the ministry said, was aimed at ensuring public safety and preventing a repeat of the violence that left more than 60 people dead in 2024, most of them young.

“Express your views peacefully. Stay within designated zones. Do not provoke the police,” read part of the government’s advisory. Protesters were also warned not to damage property, breach security zones, or spread propaganda.

A Pre-dawn Security Briefing

The government didn’t wait for tempers to flare. At 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen met with senior police officials at an undisclosed location in Nairobi. By sunrise, roadblocks were already up along major highways feeding into the capital.

Police sealed off Jogoo Road near City Stadium and set up checkpoints along Ngong Road, Limuru Road, Kiambu Road, and Mombasa Road. On Limuru Road, one barricade was positioned near the Israeli Embassy. Another checkpoint on Kiambu Road slowed traffic near Runda Mall.

Outside Parliament and State House, access was cut off entirely. Heavily armed officers stood shoulder-to-shoulder behind steel barricades and rolls of razor wire.

Despite the measures, crowds of demonstrators pushed forward across the country.

Marches Take Shape Across Kenya

In Nairobi’s Central Business District, groups of mostly young protesters waved Kenyan flags and sang beneath the gaze of riot police. Some carried white roses; others held signs bearing the names of victims.

Protests also broke out in Mombasa, Nakuru, Nyeri, Kisii, and Kitengela, where turnout swelled by mid-morning.

“We are here to remember those who died for our voices to be heard,” said 23-year-old university student Grace Mwikali in Nairobi. “The Finance Bill may have triggered it, but this is about our future.”

Many demonstrators expressed frustration not only at economic hardships but also at police brutality and the slow pace of justice for those killed in last year’s protests.

Lingering Fears of Infiltration

Though Wednesday’s protests remained largely peaceful through the early hours, authorities feared possible infiltration by what they called “criminal elements.” This followed disturbing scenes during last week’s protest in memory of Albert Ojwang, a young man who died while in police custody.

Some political leaders and civil rights groups have accused the government of using those fears to justify excessive policing and suppression of peaceful dissent.

Still, government officials insist their approach is measured.

“We have no problem with Kenyans expressing themselves,” said a senior officer at the Ministry of Interior, who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak publicly. “Our concern is ensuring that no lives are lost and no property is destroyed.”

A Test of Democracy

At the heart of the protests is a demand for accountability — not just from elected leaders, but from security agencies too. The Finance Bill may have been the spark, but a broader crisis of trust between citizens and the state now fuels this movement.

As one protester in Mombasa put it: “If we don’t speak now, our silence will cost us more.”

For now, the streets remain tense but hopeful — marked by song, mourning, and a stubborn refusal to forget.