Two years after deadly protests erupted across the country over the Finance Bill, 2024, only three of the 62 death cases recorded by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) have reached court.
The revelations come days before the commemoration of the June 25 protests anniversary scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2026.
In its progress report released on Monday, IPOA said 46 cases remain at different stages of investigation, while others have either been forwarded for review or closed.
The oversight authority said three cases had been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review and direction, one case is pending internal legal review, four cases were closed internally after investigations, and five others were closed following directions from the ODPP.
IPOA explained that investigations into the deaths have taken time due to the complex nature of the cases, which involve several processes and external institutions.
“The completion of investigations is often complex and requires extensive processes involving multiple external agencies. IPOA frequently relies on institutions such as the National Forensic Laboratory and the Government Chemist for forensic examinations and ballistic analyses, which can affect the timely completion of investigations. Further, some investigations may be delayed due to insufficient evidence,” IPOA Vice Chairperson Ann Wanjiku said.
She emphasised that completion of investigations does not automatically lead to prosecution, as cases must meet the required legal standards before being taken to court.
“Further, the progression of a case to court depends on the sufficiency of evidence and the outcome of prosecutorial review by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), as indicated above. Consequently, not every completed investigation automatically results in prosecution. Some investigations may be closed where evidence does not meet the requisite legal threshold, while others may require further review or additional investigative work,” Wanjiku said.
She noted that the three cases currently before the court are those where evidence collected and prosecutorial requirements were sufficient to allow criminal proceedings to begin.
“The three cases before the court are those in which the evidence and prosecutorial thresholds have been met, enabling criminal proceedings to commence,” the authority said.
Beyond the 2024 protests, IPOA said it has also recorded deaths linked to other major public demonstrations held in 2025.
According to the authority, 27 death cases arose from the June 2025 Gen-Z Memorial demonstrations, with one case already before the court and 26 others under active investigation.
Additionally, 38 death cases were recorded during the July 2025 Saba Saba demonstrations. IPOA said two of the cases were closed internally, while 36 remain under active investigation.
“Collectively, the three major public order management events have generated 127 deaths,” IPOA said.
On cases forwarded to the ODPP, IPOA said it would not disclose specific details while prosecutorial review is ongoing to protect the process and those involved.
“The specific names of the cases currently before the ODPP are generally not disclosed publicly while prosecutorial review is ongoing. This is to safeguard the integrity of the review process, protect witnesses and victims, and avoid prejudicing potential criminal proceedings,” the authority said.
IPOA said details of the cases would become public once the ODPP makes its decision and charges are filed, as they would then form part of court records.
To improve accountability beyond the reparations and compensation programme, IPOA said it had introduced measures aimed at speeding up investigations and improving the handling of cases.
The measures include fast-tracking investigations, implementing a backlog reduction strategy, recruiting additional investigators, and strengthening relationships with stakeholders to ensure IPOA matters receive priority attention.
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