Kenya's governance system is facing intense scrutiny and calls for a complete overhaul, as widespread protests erupted across Nairobi. Political activists and governance analysts, including Stella Agara and Wanjira Wanjiru, have accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of presiding over a deteriorating state, marked by police brutality, runaway taxation, and an elite-captured parliament. These concerns, coupled with a record fuel price hike, spurred opposition leaders, youth groups, civil society organizations, and Gen Z activists to designate Tuesday as a day of picketing to express profound dissatisfaction.

Speaking on Spice FM ahead of the demonstrations, Wanjira Wanjiru articulated the public's anger, citing continued police brutality, excessive taxation, a parliament perceived as captured by the elite, a rising cost of living, and allegations of government corruption, including a 15 billion shillings controversy and the use of helicopters by Kindiki. Wanjiru concluded that incremental reforms would be ineffective due to systemic failure, advocating for a complete overhaul of the system itself, drawing parallels between contemporary Kenya and its colonial past. Stella Agara echoed these sentiments, invoking citizens' constitutional right to remove a failing government, even suggesting alternative means if conventional methods prove futile.

The immediate trigger for the protests was a significant fuel price increase announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on April 14, which saw super petrol reach Sh197.60 per litre and diesel Sh196.63 – the largest single-month diesel increase in over two decades. On April 15, super petrol increased by Sh28.69 and diesel by Sh40.30 per litre in Nairobi, attributed to rising global costs, Middle East tensions, and increased shipping charges. Although the government later intervened by cutting Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products from 16% to 8%, leading to a partial revision where petrol dropped by Sh9.37 and diesel by Sh10.21 per litre, public anger persisted. Kenyans were still paying significantly more for fuel than before the hike, leading to immediate increases in matatu fares and warnings from traders about passing higher costs to consumers.

In response to the planned demonstrations, the National Police Service (NPS) declared them unlawful, with Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud stating that no official notification had been filed. He warned of appropriate action against participants. However, civil society groups strongly asserted the constitutional right to demonstrate, arguing it should not be curtailed by procedural hurdles. Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi specifically urged Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja to permit the protests, highlighting the detrimental economic impact of rising fuel prices.

On the day of the protests, police established roadblocks, deployed trucks and barricades across Nairobi, and anti-riot units patrolled the streets. Three protesters were arrested near the Kenya National Archives for chanting anti-government slogans. Despite the heavy police presence and warnings, a number of protesters gathered, though businesses and traffic largely flowed normally within the central business district. The demonstrations carried a somber shadow, as three people had died after police fired live rounds during protests in Mbeere North, Embu County, on April 14, prompting an investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). Organizers had cautioned that the day could turn volatile if police resorted to force. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki cautioned against the demonstrations, stating that street action could not lower pump prices and that policy interventions were the appropriate response.