Families of victims of alleged police brutality on Wednesday, June 18, marched to Jogoo House in Nairobi to seek assurances for a peaceful commemoration planned for June 25, 2026.
The procession, which included relatives of people who died during past anti-government protests, was led by Siaya Governor James Orengo and former Justice Minister Martha Karua.
The group said the planned June 25 event will honour those who lost their lives during the June 2024 demonstrations while maintaining a peaceful and lawful approach.
The families are seeking justice and accountability for victims of police violence and have called on authorities to facilitate peaceful remembrance activities.
A brief standoff occurred at the entrance of Jogoo House, which houses the office of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, after security officers initially restricted access to the group. The situation was later resolved, and representatives of the families were allowed into the premises.
Renewed Calls for Accountability
The development comes a day after the Coalition of Victims and Survivors Against State Violence (CVSSV) urged the government to publish a full list of people affected during the 2024 protests before rolling out compensation.
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Speaking to the media on Tuesday, June 16, the group said President William Ruto’s acknowledgment of state excesses was not enough. They insisted that victims must be formally recognized and compensated without delay.
The government has proposed a Ksh2 billion reparations fund to address more than 1,100 claims involving deaths, injuries, torture, abductions, and enforced disappearances.
The reparations plan sets aside a Ksh2 billion fund to compensate over 1,100 cases, covering incidents such as deaths, injuries, torture, abductions, enforced disappearances, and other related violations.
Recall of the June 25, 2024 Protests
June 25, 2024, remains one of the most tense days following nationwide protests over the Finance Bill 2024.
On that day, demonstrations were held in 35 counties, with thousands of mostly young protesters taking to the streets to oppose the proposed tax measures.
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In Nairobi, protesters overran Parliament shortly after lawmakers passed the bill. Police responded with tear gas, water cannons, and live fire to disperse the crowds.
Several deaths were reported, many occurring near Parliament buildings as protesters pushed past security barriers. Members of Parliament were evacuated through underground passages, while others fled the premises as chaos unfolded.
By the time order was restored, sections of Parliament had been vandalized, with windows shattered, furniture destroyed, and parts of the building set on fire.
The unrest was not limited to Nairobi as Eldoret and other towns; properties linked to political leaders were targeted, looted, or set ablaze.
Emergency teams struggled to respond as clashes continued throughout the day, with injured protesters seeking treatment at makeshift medical centers, some of which were later disrupted during police operations.
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