Raila urges compensation for victims of 2024 Gen Z protests, calls for justice and national healing
Odinga acknowledged recent efforts toward national reconciliation, including public apologies made during the National Prayer Breakfast earlier in the week.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has urged the government to compensate the families of those who were killed or injured during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, which were largely driven by Gen Z youth activists.
Speaking during the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations held at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County on Sunday, Odinga acknowledged recent efforts toward national reconciliation, including public apologies made during the National Prayer Breakfast earlier in the week.
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However, he called for concrete action to bring closure to what he described as a painful chapter in the country’s history.
"Your Excellency, you've had several challenges. We’ve had a lot of issues. Two years ago, we were on the streets, and even last year, Gen Z were on the streets. I saw that during the prayer breakfast this week, there were apologies that were made by the Speaker and yourself, which is wonderful as a first step to reconciliation,” Odinga said while addressing President William Ruto.
“But then there is the issue of people who were injured and people who died during that time. I want to say today that we should compensate the families of those who died and those who were injured, so that we can have closure of this chapter of our national history. Today, we want Kenya to live in peace and in unity.”
His remarks come in the wake of President Ruto’s comments at the National Prayer Breakfast held at Safari Park Hotel, where he emphasised the value of unity.
“Where there is unity, God commands a blessing,” President Ruto said, adding, “To our children, if there has been any misstep, we apologise.”
Take responsibility
However, civil society groups and human rights activists have criticised the President’s remarks, calling them performative and inadequate. They argue that the administration has yet to take responsibility for the crackdown on protests that left over 60 people dead and more than 200 injured.
According to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), 60 protesters were killed on June 25, 2024, during the demonstrations, with only two cases reaching court. Many more files remain pending with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Families of over 25 victims have launched a petition seeking justice and compensation, which they plan to present to Parliament on June 25, 2025—exactly one year after the protests widely regarded as a national tragedy.
In his speech, Odinga underscored the significance of Madaraka Day and the country’s journey to self-governance, linking Kenya’s current state to the founding fathers’ vision as reflected in the National Anthem.
“Sixty-two years ago, the founding fathers of our nation, after a very long struggle, attained internal self-government on this day. They coined the Kenyan dream. In our national anthem, we sing, ‘Lord bless this land of ours, justice be our shield and defender,’” Odinga said.
“Peace, justice, and liberty are supposed to be found within our borders. Peace is not just the absence of war; it means someone has food to eat. Unity means there is no discrimination based on gender, tribe, religion, or culture.”
Impact of devolution
He praised the impact of devolution and called on the President to strengthen it further by increasing financial allocations to county governments.
“This is a great day for Homa Bay County and a testament that devolution works, if it is empowered,” Odinga said.
He appealed to the President not to reintroduce provincial administration, describing it as “a relic of colonialism that has no place today in a free and independent Kenya.”
Odinga proposed that services currently not devolved could be delegated to county governments for better delivery and called for increased oversight by Parliament. He further urged MPs to ensure the national budget reflects the allocation agreed upon in previous negotiations.
“I appeal to Parliament to implement what we had put in our agreement, that Sh450 billion is allocated to counties in this coming budget,” he said.
The former Prime Minister reiterated his call for peace, justice, and equitable development across the country, noting that these principles are key to achieving the Kenya envisioned by its founders.
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