Karua and Orengo during the march to jogoo house together with other Kenyans / handout
Families of Kenyans killed during the June 25, 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests on Thursday marched to Jogoo House to formally notify the National Police Service of planned memorial activities marking the first anniversary of the deadly demonstrations.
They were accompanied by former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Senior Counsel Martha Karua, Siaya Governor James Orengo, lawyer Gitobu Imanyara and former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana.
The procession, which also drew civil rights activists, was aimed at delivering a notification letter ahead of the June 25 memorial events, including a planned march to Parliament in honour of those who lost their lives during the protests.
The families used the occasion to renew calls for justice, saying a year after the deaths of their loved ones, accountability remains elusive.
One mother, speaking on behalf of the bereaved families, emotionally dismissed claims that justice had been served through court cases and the arrest of junior officers.
She said while some suspects had been taken to court, the pain suffered by families remained unresolved, stressing that no legal process could restore the lives that had been lost.
The march briefly stalled at the gates of Jogoo House, where former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga challenged police officers who initially restricted access to the premises.
Addressing officers at the gate, Mutunga declared: "We have the power over you. You work for us."
He insisted that the families of those killed during the protests had every right to enter the premises and serve their notice, arguing that citizens should not be denied access when exercising their constitutional rights.
Mutunga further maintained that the relatives of those who died at the hands of police deserved respect and an opportunity to seek justice through lawful means.
Karua and Orengo joined the families in demanding guarantees for the safety of participants during the June 25 memorial events.
The two leaders emphasised that peaceful assembly is protected under the Constitution and called on Inspector-General Douglas Kanja to ensure that security agencies safeguard lives and property during the commemorations.
"No amount of compensation can substitute for justice for families whose relatives were killed," Orengo said.
Orengo also urged all Kenyans mothers, fathers, siblings, and friends to march to Parliament to demand justice and lay flowers where our children’s lives were cruelly taken.
They warned against any attempts by rogue elements to infiltrate or disrupt the planned memorial activities and urged police to facilitate rather than frustrate peaceful gatherings.
The leaders also demanded accountability for the deaths recorded during last year's demonstrations, saying the country must confront unanswered questions surrounding the killings.
The families pledged to honour their loved ones by marching peacefully to Parliament on June 25, insisting that the memories of those who died during the anti-Finance Bill protests would not be forgotten until justice is achieved.
As of Thursday, Inspector General Douglas Kanja had not publicly issued a detailed response to the demands presented by the families and their legal representatives.
