Next week, Kenyans
across the country will pause to remember one of the most painful and defining
moments in our nation’s democratic journey.
It will be two years since June 25,
2024, the day young Kenyans protesting against the Finance Bill 2024 outside
Parliament were met with deadly force from the very state that was supposed to
protect them.
What began as a peaceful
expression of constitutional rights ended in bloodshed as security forces
unleashed terror and violence on unarmed citizens whose only crime was
demanding a better future for themselves and their country.
For many families, June
25 is not just another date on the calendar. It is a day that changed their
lives forever. It is the day sons and daughters never returned home. It is the
day dreams were abruptly cut short.
It is the day parents received the
devastating phone calls that every parent fears. Two years later, the grief
remains as raw as it was on that tragic evening. The pain has not faded because
justice has never arrived.
The constitution of
Kenya guarantees every citizen the right to peacefully assemble, demonstrate
and present petitions to public authorities. The young people who gathered on
that day were exercising a constitutional right.
They were not enemies of the state.
They were not criminals. They were patriotic citizens who believed they had a
voice and a stake in the future of their country. Yet many paid for that belief
with their lives.
What makes the tragedy
even more heartbreaking is that the killings did not end on June 25, 2024.
Since that day, whenever Kenyans have taken to the streets to express their
grievances, security forces have repeatedly responded with excessive force.
Tens of Kenyans have lost their lives during demonstrations across the country.
Families have buried loved ones. Others continue to search for answers
regarding those who disappeared.
The cycle of violence has continued largely
unchecked, leaving many Kenyans wondering whether exercising constitutional
freedoms has become a death sentence.
Sadly, despite
overwhelming public concern and repeated calls for accountability, many of the
officers responsible for these killings continue to walk free. Families of
victims have waited patiently for investigations, prosecutions and justice.
Instead, they have encountered delays, excuses and silence.
The blood thirsty
officers who brutally and mercilessly extinguished innocent lives continue to
enjoy their freedom while grieving families continue to carry the burden of
loss.
The government, meanwhile, appears content to look away as impunity takes
root within institutions that are supposed to uphold the law.
As the second
anniversary approaches, numerous groups, organisations, families of victims,
social justice movements and ordinary citizens have organised various
activities to commemorate the week. Some will hold memorial services and prayer
gatherings.
Others will conduct public discussions, candle light vigils,
artistic performances, peaceful processions and moments of reflection. Every
group has the right to commemorate the occasion in the manner it considers most
appropriate, provided that such activities remain peaceful and lawful.
What is important is
that the country remembers. This is not a week about political parties or
political interests. It is a week dedicated to memory, justice and national
reflection.
It is a week to honour those young Kenyans who paid the ultimate
price while standing up for what they believed was right. It is a week to
remind ourselves that democracy carries responsibilities and that the freedoms
we enjoy today were secured through sacrifice.
As we remember our fallen
comrades, our demands remain clear. First, there must be justice and
accountability.
All police officers responsible for the killings must be
arrested and prosecuted without any further delay. A society that fails to
punish unlawful killings sends a dangerous message that some lives matter less
than others.
Second, the Government
of Kenya must issue a formal public apology for the killings that occurred
during the Gen Z protests. Nations heal when they acknowledge their mistakes.
Refusing to acknowledge wrongdoing only deepens wounds and prolongs suffering
for victims and their families.
Third, there must be
guarantees of non repetition. Never again should innocent Kenyans exercising
their constitutional rights be met with bullets. Meaningful legal, policy and
institutional reforms must be implemented to ensure future generations never
experience similar brutality at the hands of the state.
Fourth, June 25 should
be declared a national day of remembrance and a public holiday dedicated to the
Gen Z heroes. Kenya should also establish a national monument where future
generations can learn about the courage, sacrifice and patriotism displayed by
those young men and women.
Finally, there must be
realistic and transparent compensation for survivors and the families of those
who were killed or disappeared. While no amount of money can replace a lost
life, compensation can help restore dignity and provide support to families
whose livelihoods and futures were shattered forever.
As we reflect on the
events of June 25, 2024, we cannot help but think about the empty seats at
family tables across the country. We think about mothers who still cry when
they look at photographs of their children. We think about fathers who continue
to wait for justice. We think about brothers, sisters and friends whose lives
were permanently altered by a tragedy that should never have happened.
We cannot simply move on
and pretend that nothing happened. We cannot allow the memory of our comrades
to fade into history. We cannot allow those who died for their country to be
forgotten.
Their names deserve to
be remembered. Their sacrifice deserves to be honoured. Their courage deserves
to be celebrated. Above all, they deserve to be immortalised in the story of
our nation.
Long after we are gone,
future generations must know that there once lived a brave generation of young
Kenyans who stood up for justice, accountability and a better country.
They
paid the ultimate price, but their sacrifice was not in vain. Their blood will
continue to water the tree of democracy in Kenya for many years to come and
their legacy will endure long after the wounds of today have healed.
