Demonstration events have increasingly become common in Kenya, with 2024 experiencing the highest number of protests and riots in over three decades.
The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) project collects important data on political violence and demonstrations worldwide.[1] The project has been tracking the number of demonstrations in Kenya since 1997.
Quick Facts
- Kenya experienced the highest number of riots and protests in over three decades in 2024.
- The highest number of riots and protests ever recorded in Kenya occurred in July 2024, with 250 recorded events.
- The 2007/2008 post-election period recorded 107 and 108 riots and protests in December 2007 and January 2008, respectively.
- Kenya experiences high levels of rioting and protesting during election years.
What are demonstration events?
Demonstration events consist of protests and riots.[2]
- A protest occurs when three or more individuals personally participate in a demonstration against a government, political entity, group, business, policy, or tradition. Protesters do not use violence and remain peaceful even though violence may be used against them.[3]
- A riot, on the other hand, consists of three or more demonstrators who engage in violent protest, including the destruction of property, throwing rocks, and fighting.[4]
Kenya recorded the highest number of riots and protests in 2024
ACLED data shows that Kenya experienced the highest number of protests and riots in more than three decades in 2024.
From the chart below, we see massive spikes in riots and protests in the period between 2023 and 2025.
July 2024 recorded the highest number of protests and riots, with 250 demonstration events.[5]
The month with the second highest number of riots and protests was June 2024, recording 245 demonstration events.
The month of August 2024 also maintained a very high number of protests and demonstrations, recording 235 events.
The table below shows monthly protests and riots in 2024.
|
Month |
Number of riots and protests |
|
January |
140 |
|
February |
125 |
|
March |
94 |
|
April |
92 |
|
May |
206 |
|
June |
245 |
|
July |
250 |
|
August |
235 |
|
September |
220 |
|
October |
131 |
|
November |
134 |
|
December |
133 |
Election years in Kenya record very high numbers of protests and riots
The electioneering period in Kenya causes significant instability, with the country recording spikes in protests and riots during these periods.
The 2022 election period recorded the highest number of protests and demonstrations, followed by the 2017 and 2007 elections.
- The 2022 election year recorded 672 protests and riots
- The 2017 election year receded 448 protests and riots
- The 2013 election year recorded 274 protests and riots
- The 2007/2008 election and post-election period recorded 328 protests and riots
Note that protests and riots can happen either before or immediately after an election. The 2007/2008 period shows an example of protests after an election.
Additionally, the 2023/2024 protests occurred several months after the 2022 elections, even though the election year itself recorded a significant number of protests, especially when compared with other election periods.
Annual number of protests and riots in Kenya
The charts above show the monthly number of protests and riots year over year, with spikes showing specific months with very high numbers of demonstration events.
The chart below shows the number of demonstrations that happened throughout the entire year from 1997 to 2024.
The year 2024 recorded the highest number of protests and riots in three decades, with 2,005 demonstration events.
It was closely followed by 2023, which recorded 1,155 protests and riots, and 2022, with 672 protests and riots.
The last two years reflect the only time in three decades when protests and riots did not occur during an electioneering period.[6]
See Also
- List of the most corrupt counties in Kenya
- The best counties in Kenya to live in – Basic Access Index
- The Human Development Index of Kenya by County
References & Notes
[1] About ACLED. https://acleddata.com/about-acled/
[2] ACLED (2023). Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) Codebook. Accessed from https://acleddata.com/knowledge-base/codebook/
[3] Protests have three sub-event types: events displaying excessive use of force against protestors, protests with intervention (which includes a dispersal of protesters that does not lead to fatalities and injuries), and peaceful protests, which occur when protesters do not engage in any destructive activities.
[4] Riots, on the other hand, have two sub-event types, including violent demonstrations and mob violence. Note that the charts above exclude mob violence even though these actions are classified under the riots event type. According to ACLED, “this sub-event type is used when rioters violently interact with other rioters, civilians or their property, or armed groups outside of demonstration contexts.” – ACLED Codebook, 2023.
[5] HDX (2025). Kenya - conflict events. Accessed from https://data.humdata.org/dataset/kenya-acled-conflict-data
[6] June 25th 2024, was called the Gen Z revolution, given the hundreds of thousands of young people who took to the streets to protest high taxes.