Blood in the House of the People: The Cost of Protest in Kenya

 In June 2024, the core of Kenya's capital city, Nairobi, was shaken not only with shouts of protest but also with the unmistakable report of gunfire. What had begun as a peaceful

photo | world press photos 

protest regarding a contentious finance bill was devolving into violence on the grounds of Parliament — the very body that was supposed to act on behalf of the people.

The BBC Africa Eye documentary "Blood Parliament" shines a biting light on events of that fatal day, bringing together footage, interviews, and investigative journalism to raise a grisly question: Was there anything that made spilling blood at Kenya's parliament grounds worthwhile?

Watch the Video and see the unleashed Gen Z protest serial Killers ☝

A Nation's Debt, A People's Rage

The reason behind the unrest was the government's 2024 Finance Bill, a bill which sought to impose more taxes on ordinary commodities. President William Ruto's administration justified the bill as pressing in the country's runaway debt.

"We need to be in a position to improve our taxes," Ruto stated, staying true to his promise not to govern a bankrupt nation.

But to the majority of Kenyans — particularly the youth — the bill was a badge of rising inequality and deafness on the part of government. In a country where billions are stolen by corruption every day and the political class indulges in luxury, the idea of taxing basic commodities even further seemed not only unjust, but merciless.

Gen Z Rising

In what became a historic civic uprising, over 100,000 protesters — mostly young Kenyans, dubbed “Gen Z” — flooded Nairobi’s streets on June 25th, 2024. Their aim? Occupy Parliament peacefully. Their chant? “It’s a people’s assembly. It belongs to the people.”

Armed with nothing more than signs and determination, they faced off against police officers who initially used the deployment of tear gas and batons. But with more people and raising tempers, so did the ferocity.

"We even had our hands up, crying out, 'We are peaceful, we are peaceful.' And they still shot people."

Three young men – David Chege, Erickson Matissia, and Eric Shieny – were shot dead with live ammunition at the steps of Parliament.

photo | world press photos 

A Battle of Narratives

President Ruto later spoke to the nation, stating that the protests had "been hijacked by a group of organised criminals." He lamented the deaths but justified the police response.

To date, no official report has been issued, and nobody has been held accountable for the killings.

This quiet only added fuel to suspicion and rage. As a counterargument, BBC Africa Eye conducted an investigation of its own, geotagging over 5,000 pictures and videos in order to recreate the events and determine who had done it.

"You could see he's clearly aiming. Meaning, he was aiming to kill — as a message to them."When Democracy Is Met with Bullets

The documentary doesn't just lay bare facts; it indicts a system in which peaceful demonstration is conflated with rebellion, in which responsibility is the illusion, and where the cost of civic engagement might be a short life lost.

"Was there any reason to spill blood on the grounds of Kenya's parliament?"

That remains an open question, echoing through the country's political and moral landscape.

The Verdict of a Generation

This uprising, while caused by taxes, is as much about policy as it is not policy. It's about respect, justice, and the right to be heard. Kenya's Gen Z has been heard, not just as a demographic, but as a political force — a generation that will no longer stand for silence, corruption, and impunity.

Their blood has been spilled. Their voices have been heard. Whether or not those in charge will now hear them is to be determined.