Two years on, Kenyan families still seek justice after Gen Z protests
Key Points:
- On June 25, 2024, youth-led protests against Kenya's Finance Bill escalated into nationwide unrest, resulting in at least 62 deaths and numerous disappearances, with many families still seeking answers two years later.
- Human Rights Watch reports that 26 individuals linked to the 2024 protests and 15 from 2025 remain missing, amid ongoing concerns about enforced disappearances and police conduct.
- The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) states only three of the 62 protest-related deaths have reached court, with most cases still under investigation or review, highlighting challenges in prosecuting police-related violence.
- The Kenyan government has initiated a compensation program for verified victims of protest-related human rights violations, allocating $3.46 million, but families and rights groups criticize it for lacking accountability measures.
- Human rights organizations report widespread abuses during the protests, including excessive force, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings, underscoring persistent demands for police reform and justice for victims.