By: E. O.
On June 25, 2025, Kenya witnessed a day of significant protests across various cities, marking the one-year anniversary of the historic anti-government demonstrations that shook the nation in 2024. The protests, sparked by economic hardships, government corruption, and police brutality, culminated in the storming of Parliament, resulting in at least 60 deaths. One year later, as Kenyans again poured into the streets, the state’s response was predictable force, repression, and the continued silencing of dissent. Yet, the significance of these protests lies not only in their recurrence but also in the fact that they expose the underlying conditions that could fuel a revolutionary movement in the country. However, the mass uprising remains disjointed and unorganized, leaving the potential for real change stifled by the lack of a clear revolutionary leadership.
Protests and State Repression
The protests were a powerful expression of public frustration. As in 2024, demonstrators took to the streets demanding justice, accountability, and an end to the economic policies that have seen the cost of living skyrocket, making life unbearable for the majority of Kenyans. This time, the death of Albert Ojwang, a blogger who died in police custody, acted as a catalyst for renewed anger against the police force, which has long been seen as an instrument of the ruling elite’s power. In Nairobi, police barricades and razor wire surrounded Parliament, a stark reminder of the state’s readiness to suppress dissent. In response to the peaceful demonstrations, the state unleashed a heavy-handed approach: tear gas, rubber bullets, and baton-wielding officers. The message was clear protesters would not be allowed to challenge the status quo.
The government, led by President William Ruto, has continued with the same tactics of repression that have characterized previous administrations. Despite promises of reform, Ruto has failed to address the systemic issues that have driven these protests. Instead, his government has doubled down on policies that benefit the rich while further exploiting the working class and impoverished masses. As the protests unfolded, the government’s impunity was on full display. The police force, far from acting as neutral enforcers of the law, continues to act as a tool of the ruling class to maintain control through violence and intimidation.
The Revolutionary Potential in Kenya
Beneath the surface of these protests lies a deeper, more significant reality. Kenya, like much of Africa, finds itself at a crossroads, teetering between maintaining the existing capitalist order and the potential for a revolutionary shift. The conditions for revolution are ripe economic inequality has reached extreme levels, with a small elite consolidating wealth while the majority of the population struggles to survive. Unemployment remains high, inflation continues to eat away at people’s incomes, and basic public services are crumbling. Meanwhile, the ruling class remains indifferent to the plight of the people, perpetuating policies that serve only their interests.
The protests, while powerful, are largely spontaneous and lack coherent leadership. The lack of organization among the masses, who are spread across various sectors, prevents the emergence of a unified force that could challenge the political establishment. This disorganization is a reflection of a broader problem: Kenya’s working class, though ripe for revolution, lacks the political consciousness and organization needed to challenge the system effectively.
The Stagnation of President Ruto’s Regime
President Ruto, despite facing widespread criticism for his handling of the economy and the protests, has shown little willingness to change course. Instead of addressing the root causes of the discontent, he has opted to repress dissent. His administration’s approach to governance has been marked by arrogance and impunity, with no accountability for the deaths and injuries caused by state violence. The death of Albert Ojwang, for example, has led to charges against some police officers, but the broader system of state violence remains unchallenged.
This unrepentant stance is characteristic of Kenya’s ruling class, which has long used violence to maintain its grip on power. From the post-election violence of 2007-2008 to the current wave of repression, the Kenyan government has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to use force to quell any threat to its authority. President Ruto’s failure to address the systemic issues that led to last year’s protests and the continued use of violence suggests that the country is on a path of deepening authoritarianism, where dissent is no longer tolerated and any challenge to the ruling elite is met with brutal repression.
The Way Forward: Organizing for Revolution
While the conditions for revolution are ripe in Kenya, the masses remain unorganized, fragmented, and without a clear direction. A revolution cannot be achieved through spontaneous protests alone. What is needed is the development of a revolutionary consciousness among the working class and the formation of organized movements that can channel the anger and frustration of the people into a concrete political force. This will require a unified approach that transcends sectoral interests and focuses on the common struggle of the working class against the capitalist system that exploits them.
The trade unions, student organizations, and other grassroots movements that have historically played a role in challenging the state must step up and provide the leadership necessary to organize the masses. This means building alliances across different sectors, creating platforms for political education, and developing strategies to challenge the government’s monopoly on power. It also means confronting the ideological hold of the ruling class, which uses nationalism, ethnic identity, and other forms of division to maintain its control.
The masses of Kenya must recognize that their struggle is not just about reforms or better governance it is about overthrowing the system that perpetuates their exploitation. This will require a revolutionary socialist movement that is committed to the interests of the working class and that seeks to replace the capitalist system with a system of governance that prioritizes the needs of the people, not the elite.
Conclusion: A Call for Revolutionary Action
The protests of June 25, 2025, are a clear indication that Kenya’s working class is growing increasingly disillusioned with the status quo. However, as long as the masses remain unorganized, these protests will remain isolated and ineffective in bringing about systemic change. President Ruto’s government continues to rely on repression and violence to maintain its power, but the people’s anger is palpable, and the revolutionary potential is undeniable. What is needed now is the development of a coherent revolutionary strategy that can unite the people and build a movement capable of challenging the system. Without this, the cycle of protest and repression will continue, and Kenya will remain trapped in its current political stagnation.
