The Protests in 2024 were not just another chapter in a long history of civil unrest, they were moments frozen in time, each frame carrying the weight of hope, anger, and the human spirit. As a photographer, every click of the shutter was a decision, a heartbeat in the ongoing struggle for justice. The raw intensity of the protests, with their mix of violence, passion, and collective action, was something I had never fully anticipated when I first grabbed my camera and entered the fray.
Protests in 2024 the first day of unrest
I remember the first day clearly clear skies, with the streets filled with the hum of a crowd growing steadily larger. But there was an undercurrent of something more. The tension was highly noticeable. You could feel it in the air, an electricity that crackled just beneath the surface. The Protests in 2024 had begun peacefully, but everyone around me knew something monumental was at stake. Kenyans were ready to march for change, and they were willing to risk everything to make their voices heard.
As a photographer, I was there to document it, but deep inside, I was also a witness to history in the making.
When fear and unity collided
As the day wore on, the atmosphere began to change. From downtown to uptown. River road to to Koinange street. The peaceful chants of the young people grew louder, the urgency to march to parliament grounds, more pronounced. A single tear rolled down the cheek of a young man beside me, his fist clenched in a symbol of defiance. There was a growing sense of fear, fear of the unknown, fear of what might come next. Fear of being just a Name on IPOA list documenting Police Brutality. But there was also a feeling of unity, a collective strength that seemed to come alive as the crowd surged forward, demanding answers. The Protests in 2024 were no longer just a gathering; they had become a movement, an undeniable force of nature. A movement that could not be stopped by the outnumbered GSU Police Members, who were ready to strike anyone who crossed their line.
But with the movement came violence. As the protests escalated, so did the response from authorities. The police, in full riot gear, were moving quickly to contain the crowds. That’s when the chaos erupted; flashbangs, tear gas, and the sounds of screams blending with the roar of the crowd. Their Water Canons Speeding past protesters drenching them with pink coloured water. Protesters continued to Pish the GSU officers back.
It was a moment where everything seemed to happen at once. My instincts as a photographer kicked in. I found myself crouched behind a barricade, snapping images of the clash that was unfolding in front of me.
Battlefield captured in frames
Here’s a rewritten version of your paragraph to match the image of the injured boy being carried during the protest:
The streets of Nairobi were surreal; an overwhelming rush of sound, urgency, and chaos. The protests had escalated beyond a march; they had become a battlefield. In the midst of the turmoil, I saw the human cost of resistance. A young man, his green jacket smeared with blood, was being carried by frantic hands. His face twisted in agony, his body limp, his jeans soaked in red. The determination in the eyes of those holding him spoke volumes; fear, anger, and desperation fused into one moment. I raised my camera, knowing this wasn’t just about him. His suffering was a testament to everyone who had put their bodies on the line for change. Through my lens, I hoped his story would reach those who would never step onto these streets, never feel the weight of this fight firsthand.
In the aftermath of the chaos, I continued to document the aftermath—people helping each other, bloodied faces, the faint smell of smoke still in the air. It was in these quiet moments that the real story of the Protests in 2024 emerged. The wounded were not just victims; they were also survivors. The resilience of the human spirit was present in every photo I took, each one showing a moment of struggle, of defiance, and of hope.
The defining moment of the protest came when tensions escalated outside the gates of Parliament in Nairobi. A police officer, armed and masked, took position behind a fence, aiming his weapon at protesters attempting to breach the compound. Just beyond him, a military truck burned, thick black smoke billowing into the sky—a stark symbol of the unrest. The air crackled with urgency, the lines between authority and resistance drawn sharply. I raised my camera, capturing the raw intensity of a city at a breaking point, where every action carried the weight of defiance and consequence.
A story beyond the headlines
The Protests in Kenya were not just about the images I captured; they were about the people. They were about the stories of individuals who came together to fight for something bigger than themselves. Through the lens of my camera, I was able to see not just the external turmoil but also the internal strength that drove the movement forward.
In many ways, the photos I took of the Protests of the day felt like a reflection of my own emotional journey. As I navigated each and every street, I felt my own sense of fear, anger, and hope intertwining with those around me. What began as an assignment to document a social arrest in the city, became something much deeper; an opportunity to be part of a larger story, to witness the raw, unfiltered reality of Kenyans fighting for their future.
A testament to the human spirit
As I look back at the images from the Protests, I see not just the physical scars of the struggle among Kenyans but the emotional ones as well. Every protester, every face, every tear captured on my card is a reminder of the humanity behind the headlines.
The true story of these protests lies not in the headlines, but in the eyes of those who stood and fought, who bled, Injured, and hoped. I will carry these images with me, not just as a photographer, but as a Kenyan being who witnessed history unfold, frame by frame.
In the end, the Protests in Kenya were not just a fleeting moment. They were a testament to the power of the younger Generation in Kenya, a reminder that, in the face of adversity, poor governance and rampant corruption, we are capable of incredible things. And as a photographer, I am grateful to have been there to witness and capture it all.