Families of Gen Z protest victims demand justice before compensation
The families emphasised that any compensation process must be guided by justice, accountability, and direct dialogue with survivors rather than intermediaries.
Families and survivors of the Gen Z-led protests of 2024 have made it clear that no amount of compensation will be accepted unless those responsible for violence and deaths during the demonstrations are held accountable.
They addressed their concerns to the task force appointed by President William Ruto to design a framework for payouts.
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Gillian Munyao, mother of Rex Masai, who died during the anti-Finance Bill protests, said justice is non-negotiable.
“For us, justice is very clear, it’s not an abstract idea. The State must publicly and unequivocally declare that those who were killed were not terrorists or criminals. They were patriots, young Kenyans who went to the streets not with guns or grenades but with flags, placards and chants of freedom,” she said as reported by the Daily Nation.
“It hurts to see the person who killed my son walking free, still working. Even with clear evidence, he denies it. I demand justice because there is enough proof of what happened. We will only accept compensation if the culprit is jailed,” she added.
Tobias Thuo, a protest survivor who was shot, said the effects of the violence continue to devastate lives.
“If football players are being given money and houses, why not young people who stood up for their rights? Compensation must include life and health insurance because most of us have been left with nothing,” he said.
Rodgers Mwabe cautioned against interference from politicians or middlemen.
“If the President wants to compensate us, let him call us to State House and give us what he has, just like he gave money to Harambee Stars players. Let no MCAs or elected leaders interfere,” he said as quoted by the Daily Nation.
Jacinta Onyango, mother of 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango, said her trust in the government has been shaken despite a personal call from the President.
“He called me before I buried my son and assured me of support, but nothing has happened since. My son had dreams of lifting our family out of poverty. Now I have two sick children and no help. No amount of compensation will replace him,” she said.
Other victims shared similar struggles. Samuel Kinyanjui, who lost his job after being shot, said life has been extremely difficult.
“We are asking the President to do something for us as we wait for the task force. We need immediate support, maybe through credit facilities or a guarantor to pay our bills. The task force should also help victims get jobs so we can rebuild our lives,” he said.
The families emphasised that any compensation process must be guided by justice, accountability, and direct dialogue with survivors rather than intermediaries.
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