Families of June 25, 2024 protest victims plan nationwide memorial march

Families of victims of the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests have been assured of police protection ahead of a planned commemoration that will be held across all 47 counties.

A week before the commemoration of the deadly June 25, 2024, protests, families of victims who are yet to get justice say they will take to the streets to honour their loved ones who lost their lives while fighting for good governance.

In the company of human rights defenders and political leaders, the parents and relatives of Rex Masai, Erickson Mutisya, Kennedy Onyango and Andrew Kelvin marched to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja's office at Jogoo House.

Their mission was to notify the police of their planned commemoration march on June 25 in honour of their loved ones.

The families, who marched to IG Kanja's office at Jogoo House to present a notice of the planned peaceful march in honour of their loved ones, have also demanded the arrest and prosecution of all police officers and those with command responsibility for the killings, torture and enforced disappearances.

"Mimi ningeomba hiyo tarehe iwe holiday miaka na miaka na miaka. June 25th naomba iwe holiday ya mashujaa watoto wetu, na tunaomba hiyo siku askari wasiuwe watoto wetu tena, wasitumie teargas. Tumekuja na upole, si maandamano ni makumbusho,” said Kennedy Onyango's mother Jecinta Anyango.

Erickson Mutisya's mother Carolyne Mutisya added: “Tumesema ni asante petition yetu imechukuliwa na tutakuwa sawa 25th, so we will march to honour our children."

Brian Kasaine's brother Kelvin Simba on his part said: “Wametuhakikishia watatupatia security na wamesema hawatabeba zile ziko na marisasi. Tunaambia Wakenya watoke all counties, it will be peaceful. Hakutakuwa na goons. Askari watatupatia security."

With the assurance from police, the families listed six demands they want the government to implement.

They include the arrest and prosecution of all police officers responsible for the killings, a formal public apology, consultation on all elements of reparation, and adequate, timely and transparent compensation.

"Make a clear commitment that never again will the police kill innocent Kenyans. Put in place concrete measures to prevent future violence by State agents,” Rex Masai’s mother Gillian Munyao noted.

Political leaders who joined the march asked President William Ruto to retract his "shoot to incapacitate" directive, saying doing so would help reduce cases of police excesses.

"The President must come out clearly and say under the Kenyan Constitution the order to shoot-to-kill has no basis in our constitutional order,” Siaya Governor James Orengo said.

Lawyer Gitobu Imanyara added: “These young parents are not asking for privileges and are not asking for tokenism. They want an acknowledgement that the worst possible crimes have been committed by his officers, and we will not rest until we get rid of the culture of impunity and police brutality."

"As leaders, we are out here with them pledging to be with them and urging the police to respect the Constitution and the rule of law,” added People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua.

The group, which insists June 25 should be observed as a public holiday with no work and no school, says it will march to Parliament to demand justice and lay flowers at the site where the victims were shot dead.