Families of June 25 Gen Z protest victims demand justice, say compensation not enough

Former Chief Justice David Maraga and Gillian Munyao, mother of Rex Masai, at the United Green Movement Party (UGM) headquarters. (Photo: X/David Maraga)

By Rachael Mutabasi
Thursday, June 25, 2026

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Among those who spoke was Gillian Munyao, the mother of the late Rex Masai, who urged the government to prioritise accountability over compensation.

Families of Kenyans killed during the June 2024 Gen Z protests have renewed calls for justice and accountability, insisting that compensation cannot replace the need to hold those responsible for the deaths to account.

The families made the demands on Thursday during commemorations marking the second anniversary of the protests, where relatives of victims, activists and political leaders gathered to honour those who lost their lives during the demonstrations.

Among those who spoke was Gillian Munyao, the mother of the late Rex Masai, who urged the government to prioritise accountability over compensation.

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“Take away the people who killed our children. We want justice. Even though compensation is being announced, who has received it? Not me and not Mama Rex,” she said.

The mother of Erickson Kyalo Mutisya, one of the protesters killed during the 2024 demonstrations, also called for justice and accountability from the government.

“My son was killed a day like today outside Parliament. We just want justice and accountability from the government,” she said.

The families had planned to march to Parliament Buildings to lay flowers in memory of those killed during the protests. However, their procession was blocked by police barricades, preventing them from accessing the precincts.

Accompanied by activists and opposition leaders, the families maintained that financial compensation alone would not address the pain and loss suffered by victims' relatives.

Human rights activist Hussein Khalid joined the calls for accountability, urging authorities to remove officers implicated in the deaths from the police service.

“We want those killer cops to be removed from the service. They continue to be a danger to Kenyans wherever they are,” Khalid said.

The families said they would continue pushing for justice, accountability and recognition of those who lost their lives during the June 2024 demonstrations.