France, June 25 -- Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets in June 2024 against economic hardship and corruption, eventually storming parliament to force the cancellation of new taxes.

It was a watershed moment with young Kenyans ignoring traditional ethnic dividing lines, and June 25 has become an annual day of protest as frustration continues with the government of President William Ruto.

But they paid a heavy price, with at least 127 people killed across the two years of protests, according to a police watchdog, as security forces shot people with near-total impunity.

Police were taking no chances on Thursday, with a slew of roadblocks shutting off traffic on key roads around Nairobi, and schools and businesses shuttered. Police sh...