A group of Human Rights Defenders and protest victims have unveiled a security preparedness plan for June 25, when the nation will commemorate and honour civilians killed during the protests of 2025 and 2026.
Addressing a press briefing in Nairobi, the group under the Amka Changamka Movement umbrella called for vigilance among participants and accountability from the police.
They said June 25 remains a painful reminder that Kenyans were killed while exercising their constitutional rights, and as such, they will not forget or allow the truth to be buried or distorted.
"We remind all security agencies that this commemoration is lawful. Any use of excessive force, unlawful arrests, or covert operations against peaceful citizens will be documented and pursued through all available accountability channels," they reiterated.
At the same time, they urged vigilance among participants engaging in the protests, which they said will be held countrywide, with particular emphasis on locations where protesters were shot.
They plan to lay flowers and wave the Kenyan flag alongside white handkerchiefs to symbolise their commitment to peace and justice.
"We will be waving the flag, white handkerchiefs and carrying flowers as a sign and commitment to our good intentions. We are asking the state to reciprocate that in equal measure to Kenyans who will be coming out to commemorate by acting with utmost restraint," Fredrick Ojiro from the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) urged.
The group further called on all young people attending the commemoration to move in groups.
The group expressed solidarity while addressing the media on Tuesday, June 23. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)
"Do not stand alone. Have at least one trusted friend, brother or sister who is actively looking out for you at all times," they urged in their joint statement.
They also encouraged young people across the country to livestream the events, take pictures, record videos, and share widely.
The electronic images, they said, will serve as evidence against goons sent to cause chaos and against officers who act outside the law.
"We have also deployed advanced drone technology to capture real-time footage across different locations. Any violation of human rights will be documented with sufficient, verifiable evidence. We will not tolerate the use of organised criminal groups planted to infiltrate peaceful commemorators to justify the use of force," they added.
The group said human rights monitors will also be deployed to observe the situation and document violations.
In case of emergencies, participants were urged to use hotlines provided by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Defenders Coalition, the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), Amnesty International Kenya, Civic Freedoms Forum, and the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
At the same time, the group dismissed President William Ruto's apology to victims of the protests, saying it has no meaning as it fails to acknowledge the role of perpetrators behind the killings.
They said for healing to occur, the government must first establish the truth, deliver justice, and then seek reconciliation; only then should direct apologies be issued to each family.
On whether the protest was organised by politicians who presented a notice to police last week, they clarified that the event is by Kenyans for Kenyans, welcoming all citizens of goodwill to participate, while rejecting any attempt to hijack the commemoration for selfish political gain.
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