The United States Embassy in Nairobi has issued a security advisory to American citizens living and travelling in Kenya, warning of heightened risk of demonstrations across the country as the second anniversary of the June 25, 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests approaches.
The alert, released on Thursday June 18, flags urban centres and Nairobi’s Central Business District as areas of particular concern, cautioning that unrest could break out at any time in the days ahead.
“June 25 is the anniversary of protests that occurred in Kenya during the past two years. Demonstrations may occur at any time, but the potential for protests is higher around June 25,” the Embassy stated in the advisory.
The Embassy warned that traffic disruptions, road congestion, and roadblocks erected by both protesters and law enforcement agencies were likely during this period. American citizens were advised to avoid demonstrations and large crowds, monitor local media for updates, and maintain heightened personal security awareness.
Specific guidance included keeping vehicle doors locked and windows fully rolled up while on the road, notifying friends and family of one’s whereabouts, reviewing personal security plans, and carrying a copy of a valid US passport alongside a current Kenyan visa at all times.
The advisory comes as political and civil society leaders, alongside families of victims of the 2024 protests, ramp up preparations for what is shaping up to be a significant nationwide commemoration.
On Thursday, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, Siaya Governor James Orengo, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, and activist Boniface Mwangi led a march to Jogoo House, where they formally notified Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja of their intention to hold peaceful nationwide demonstrations on June 25. The group also petitioned the government to officially recognise June 25 as a public holiday.
Families of identified victims — including the relatives of Rex Masai, Erickson Mutisya, Kennedy Onyango, and Andrew Kelvin — joined the march and renewed their demand for the arrest and prosecution of police officers and commanders responsible for killings, torture, and enforced disappearances during the 2024 protests. The families were assured of police protection for the planned commemorative events, which are set to be held across all 47 counties.
Organisers have insisted that the June 25 events will be peaceful and conducted within the law. However, the timing of the advisory adds another layer of tension to an already charged political atmosphere, coming just a day after the National Assembly passed the contentious Finance Bill 2026.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has so far documented 1,815 compensation claims linked to human rights violations arising from protests and demonstrations between 2017 and 2024, with government-backed reparations expected to begin rolling out in the coming days.
As June 25 draws near, all eyes remain on whether this year’s commemorations will remain peaceful or escalate into the kind of unrest that has marked the date in previous years.
