Nationwide protests are being planned for Tuesday, June 25, in honour of lives lost during recent demonstrations, with organisers calling it a National Remembrance Day for Kenya’s fallen heroes.
According to a viral poster circulating online, the protests—dubbed “Justice 4 Our Mashujaa”—will take place countrywide across all 47 counties starting from 10:00 am.
The protest is being led in memory of what the poster refers to as “our Gen Z Mashujaa”, a reference to young protestors who were brutally killed by the police during anti-government demonstrations that began in June last year.
“National Remembrance Day to honour our heroes, and demand justice and compensation for innocent protestors murdered by the Kenyan State. We shall march countrywide, in all the 47 counties, to remember our fallen heroes,” read the poster in parts.
Protests Dubbed Justice4OurMashujaa Planned Nationwide for June 25
The message goes on to call on Kenyans to show up with flags, flowers, and placards from 10:00 am.
It also urges participants to demand justice and compensation for what it terms the “innocent protestors murdered by the Kenyan State.”
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Bold slogans such as “Rage & Courage” and “We Will Never Forget” are featured prominently, with hashtags #Justice4OurMashujaa, #NeverForgetKE, and #FagiaWote used to rally support online.
A year on from landmark protests over taxes and corruption, Kenya’s youth have remained undeterred by a violent police response but face conflicting ideas on what direction to take.
Meanwhile, the recent death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody has sparked new demonstrations.
The first march began in the capital, Nairobi, on Monday, June 9, near the Central Police Station where Ojwang died. Some protesters clashed with the police after officers used tear gas on the crowd.
This comes after Tuesday’s June 17 protests over the death of the blogger took a sinister turn, as police officers and hired thugs appeared to act in coordination in plain sight in Nairobi CBD.
Groups of hired goons arrived on motorbikes—some armed with clubs and whips—terrorising innocent passersby under the apparent approval or indifference of the security forces.
A masked police officer was captured on multiple videos shooting an unarmed face mask vendor at close range, striking him in the face.
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22 Kenyans Injured During Tuesday Demonstrations
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) recorded 22 casualties during Tuesday’s demonstrations, which called for the resignation of Deputy Police Inspector General Eliud Lagat over his alleged involvement in the murder of teacher Albert Ojwang.
In a statement to newsrooms, KNCHR Vice Chairperson Dr. Raymond Nyeris revealed that among the 22 casualties, most sustained injuries ranging from gunshot wounds and head cuts to whip lashes, blunt force trauma, and asthma attacks caused by inhaling teargas.
The commission condemned the arrest of protestors, including four human rights defenders in Mombasa, despite being peaceful and having duly notified the police in line with the law.
“The commission calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the protestors. The KNCHR commends the majority of the protestors for being peaceful despite attacks and provocation by the police and hired goons,” the statement read in part.
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