Nakuru county ranked second among Kenya’s deadly protest hotbeds

Nakuru County has emerged as Kenya’s second-largest hotspot for protests and demonstrations, according to a report dubbed the Kenya Freedom Index, by Amnesty International Kenya and Odipo Dev.

The report, which tracked peaceful assembly trends between January 2020 and December 2025, places Nakuru behind only Nairobi in the number of documented protests nationwide.

According to the index, Nakuru accounted for five percent of all recorded protests in the country, translating to approximately 50 demonstrations, earning its place among Kenya’s so-called “Protest Capitals” alongside Nairobi, which led with 29 percent or about 291 protests, and Mombasa at four percent.

The report attributes Nakuru’s high ranking to its growing urban population, active youth networks, and strong media presence, which makes mobilization and demonstrations more visible.

Economic hardships emerged as the leading trigger of protests across the country, and the report shows that 45 percent of all demonstrations, translating to 449 protests, were linked to economic freedoms, with Kenyans demanding affordable food prices, better wages, and improved public services.

Political freedoms followed closely, accounting for 361 protests or 36 percent of the total demonstrations recorded. These protests were largely fueled by electoral disputes and dissatisfaction with national leadership.

The report further notes that protest trends have evolved over the years, with labor-related grievances dominating demonstrations between 2020 and 2021 before political tensions surrounding the 2022 General Election took center stage.

In 2024, the country witnessed a surge in Gen Z-led anti-Finance Bill protests, while 2025 demonstrations largely focused on alleged state-sanctioned abductions and concerns over civil liberties.

While economic and political issues dominated, the report also documented a growing number of protests tied to social and environmental concerns. Environmental demonstrations numbered 101, while protests linked to social freedoms, including gender-based violence, accounted for 43 incidents.

The Kenya Freedom Index documented a total of 1,002 protests across the country within the five-year period.

However, the report paints a grim picture of the human cost associated with demonstrations.

At least 138 people lost their lives during protests, while 1,227 others sustained injuries. Another 2,128 people were arrested in connection with demonstrations.

Separate human rights reports and media documentation indicate that Nakuru recorded at least six protest-related deaths within the same period.

Contrary to the common perception that politicians are the main drivers of protests, the report found that ordinary residents and community members organized the largest share of demonstrations, at 36 percent (361 protests).

Workers and trade unions followed at 24 percent, which is equivalent to 235 protests.

The report further reveals that most protests were directed at the national government, which accounted for 325 demonstrations. County governments followed with 166 protests, while police and security agencies were targeted in 133 incidents.

Although the majority of protests, 661 in total, were categorized as peaceful marches, the report accuses the National Police Service of frequently responding with force aimed at “dominating and dispersing” demonstrators.

Teargas was identified as the most commonly used crowd-control weapon, appearing in 231 recorded cases. Other methods documented included live bullets in 87 incidents, water cannons in 67 cases, and rubber bullets in 55 incidents.

Despite the risks associated with public demonstrations, the report notes that protests have at times yielded positive outcomes, including successful dialogue between authorities and protesting groups that resulted in policy and institutional changes.