Two years on, Kenyan families still seek justice after Gen Z protests
Families of victims killed or missing during the 2024 youth-led protests in Kenya continue to demand accountability and police reform, as most cases remain unsolved and a compensation program faces criticism.
Nairobi, Kenya – June 25, 2024 marks a painful anniversary for many Kenyan families. What began as youth-led protests against the Finance Bill turned into nationwide unrest, with protesters entering Parliament and violence erupting. According to rights groups and official figures, 62 people were killed and many others went missing. Two years later, relatives are still searching for answers.
Human Rights Watch reported in its 2026 World Report that 26 individuals linked to the 2024 protests and 15 linked to 2025 demonstrations remain missing.
On Tuesday, families of the victims, joined by civil society groups, held a memorial march in Nairobi to demand accountability and police reform.
James Otieno, father of 23-year-old Denzel Omondi, told Al Jazeera that his son disappeared after the protests. Denzel had posted a video showing protesters inside Parliament and was later arrested by police at a relative's house. Otieno said no one has been held accountable, and investigations have made little progress.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) stated that only three of the 62 deaths have reached court. As of June 22, three cases are before court, three are under review by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and 46 remain under investigation. IPOA Vice Chairperson Anne Wanjiku Mwangi said progress depends on evidence sufficiency and prosecutorial review.
Susan Wangari Wanjohi has been searching for her son Emmanuel Kamau Mukuria since June 25, 2024. The 24-year-old was arrested at Imenti House in Nairobi’s central business district. She has visited every prison in the country without success, believing her son is still alive somewhere.
The government has launched a compensation program for verified victims of human rights violations linked to protests from 2013 to 2025. The first phase allocates $3.46 million to 348 victims. Families of 115 people killed will receive $23,148 each, while those with severe injuries get $7,730. However, affected families criticize the program, saying financial compensation does not address the need for accountability.
Rights organizations including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the Missing Voices Coalition have documented excessive force, arbitrary arrests, and enforced disappearances during the protests. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported at least 63 deaths, 610 injuries, and 74 enforced disappearances in the 2024 protest period. Amnesty International cited at least 60 deaths due to live ammunition and other crowd control methods.
James Otieno emphasized: "Even if you gave me 20 million, it won’t be enough compensation for the life of my son. What we want is accountability."
