Two protestors helping injured people are hit with tear gas outside the Kenyan Parliament during a national strike against the Finance Bill 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.
2025 Photo Contest - Africa - Stories

Kenya’s Youth Uprising

Photographer

Luis Tato

Agence France-Presse
25 June, 2024

Two protestors helping injured people are hit with tear gas outside the Kenyan Parliament during a national strike against the Finance Bill 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.

In 2024, the National Treasury of Kenya proposed additional taxes on everyday items to generate additional income and alleviate Kenya’s high debt burden. Protests against the bill erupted in Nairobi and soon spread all across the country, led by young Kenyans who organized actions over social media. 

On 25 June, protestors stormed Parliament and clashed with police; many were killed or abducted by Kenyan police and hundreds were injured. In response, President William Ruto eventually withdrew the controversial tax bill. However, this concession did not end the protests, which persisted into 2025. The underlying grievances driving protestors extend beyond the tax bill itself. Young Kenyans are expressing deep-seated anger over a range of issues, including lack of economic opportunity, pervasive corruption, police brutality, and a fundamental distrust of the political class. 

The protests have highlighted the growing influence of young people in Kenya's political landscape. They are emerging as a powerful force for change and accountability, pushing for reforms that can address the country's long-standing challenges.
 

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Luis Tato
About the photographer

Luis Tato is a photojournalist based in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2023, he joined Agence France-Presse as a staff photographer, and is currently serving as Chief Photographer and Photo Coordinator for East Africa and the Indian Ocean.  Tato gained a degree in audiovisual communication and began his career covering Spa...

Read the full biography

Jury comment

This project offers strong photojournalistic coverage of a key news event from the year, with each shot and the overall edit effectively capturing the unfolding events while also addressing larger issues of generational divides across Kenya, particularly the disillusionment between older and younger generations. The photographer's ability to capture the story from both sides, while being so close to the friction—moments of explosion when fatalities occurred—adds significant depth. The high-level photography aligns perfectly with what the jury was looking for.