Families of youths killed during the anti-government protests of 2024–2025 are set to march to the State House today in a peaceful procession to demand justice,accountability and compensation from President William Ruto’s government.
The bereaved relatives parents, siblings and other kin of young people who lost their lives during the turbulence, say they have grown frustrated by delays in investigations and by the fact that no police officer has been held accountable for extrajudicial killings tied to the protests. They argue that families continue to suffer emotional and financial hardship while justice remains elusive.
According to a formal notice submitted to police, the march will convene at Jeevanjee Gardens in Nairobi at 9:00 am before setting off towards State House. Participants have been instructed to carry only flowers and the national flag to underscore the peaceful nature of the appeal.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Kelvin Simba, whose brother Mike Brian Kasaine was among those killed, cited reports by the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) showing that three out of every five protest victims were shot in the back while retreating, suggesting they were unarmed at the time of their deaths.
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The families are asking for a direct audience with President Ruto to press for finalisation of reparations and for concrete steps toward accountability. They contend that, although the President issued a presidential proclamation in August 2025 to establish a framework for reparations, progress has stalled.
Organizers stress that their assembly is not intended as a political protest, but as a heartfelt appeal for closure before the end of the year. “We ask that he finally hear the cries of families facing a Christmas without the laughter of their loved ones,” the notice reads.
President William Ruto’s government had earlier established an 18-member Panel of Experts to oversee compensation for victims of protests and police brutality, although the panel was recently declared unconstitutional by the High court.
Opposition and coalition leaders, including leaders from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), have in the past called for financial redress and compensation for protest victims and their families as part of broader national reconciliation efforts, though not specifically tied to today’s march.
The Informer Rights organizations and some lawmakers have also echoed calls for accountability and victim support over the past year.
The families have requested a police escort to ensure safety and to uphold their constitutional rights to assemble peacefully and petition authorities.Security agencies have been notified, and media houses invited to cover the procession.
Organizers believe that today’s event will be a solemn but significant reminder of the human cost of the anti-government protests and hope it will prompt renewed efforts to deliver long-awaited justice for victims’ families.
