Parliament: The House that fell now hides behind razor wire

Police barricade Parliament with razor wire during Gen Z anniversary protests in Nairobi, on June 25, 2026. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard]

Two years ago, Parliament buildings became the epicenter of chaos after disgruntled youth stormed the precincts during the 2024 anti-government protests. However, the scenes witnessed on Thursday painted a starkly contrasting picture, Parliament had become an untouchable fortress.  

On July 25, 2024, the Senate and National Assembly, among the country’s most heavily protected installations, were breached, unleashing anarchy. For 45 minutes, mayhem, panic and bloodshed reigned supreme as the two Houses of Parliament fell.

When it was all said and done, six people were dead, several had been shot and many more injured. The spark that lit the fire was the Finance Bill 2024. Trouble begun after the National Assembly passed the Finance Bill in a record two hours amid nationwide protests against the proposed law.

Shortly after 3pm, crowds of irate protestors laid siege on Parliament and eventually overran the security detail to gain access to the precincts of one of the country’s most fortified establishments. They brought down the sturdy barrier next to the mausoleum where Kenya’s first President, Jomo Kenyatta, is buried and used it as a gateway to Parliament.

The Senate was the first to fall. Protesters shattered windows, broke into Senators’ lockers and eventually made their way into the chamber, which they vandalised.

Another group made its way to the National Assembly reception, where they stole a replica of the mace, usually displayed there for decorative purposes, before forcing their way into the chambers. Inside, they smashed iPads and transmitters and even staged a mock “address” of the House.

Just a few metres from the chambers, another mob helped itself to the culinary offerings at the canteen and members’ lounge, destroyed imported furniture and carried away whatever they could before proceeding to Parliament’s new wing, where they set offices on fire.

Anything they perceived to be valuable but immovable was destroyed. Anything they considered useful to legislators was set ablaze.

As the chaos escalated, MPs scrambled for safety in their offices. But it soon became apparent that even those offices would not shield them from the anger of the protesters.

Members of Parliament were forced to evacuate the premises in waves. Most relied on the underground tunnel connecting the main Parliament precincts to the newly constructed Bunge Towers and later used ambulances to slip out of the precincts undetected.

The developments drew the ire of government officials, who vowed to ensure that Parliament would always be protected going forward. The same declaration was repeated by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen last week, when he warned against violence during Thursday’s anniversary protests.

Scrambled for safety

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen warned that while Article 37 guarantees the right to peaceful protest, it does not protect criminal acts such as looting, arson, destruction of property or invading Parliament.

Speaking during the funeral of Zipporah Kosgey in Nandi Hills on June 19, Murkomen accused politicians of exploiting young people to cause chaos during protests.

To prevent a repeat of the 2024 breach, Parliament was heavily guarded during yesterday’s demonstrations and remained inaccessible, even to families of victims of the original protests.

Razor wire, barriers and roadblocks sealed off access roads leading to Parliament and nearby government offices. Anti-riot police, water cannons, armed officers and plainclothes personnel patrolled the precincts and the wider CBD, while checkpoints were mounted on major entry routes.

Inside Parliament, the National Assembly and Senate precincts remained largely deserted as MPs and staff stayed away over security concerns, leading to the suspension of several committee meetings.

Lawmakers later attended the afternoon plenary sitting, while Nairobi Regional Commander Issa Mahmud defended the security measures as necessary to deter troublemakers.