Oburu to police: Safeguard peaceful Gen Z anniversary protesters

ODM leader Oburu Oginga has appealed to police officers to facilitate and protect peaceful demonstrators ahead of the planned Gen Z anniversary protests scheduled for Thursday.

Speaking ahead of the demonstrations, the leader said security officers should view citizens exercising their constitutional rights as people deserving protection rather than as enemies of the state.

“Come out peacefully and demonstrate, and give notice to the police so that police can give you protection,” Oburu said.

The ODM leader spoke on Wednesday in Nairobi after receiving a briefing from the victims' compensation panel, chaired by Professor Makau Mutua.

He urged both protesters and police to operate within the law.

His remarks came hours after the government announced that it had started paying the first batch of beneficiaries.

Oburu reflected on past opposition demonstrations, saying many Kenyans had paid a heavy price in the struggle for democracy and justice.

“I can tell you, people have suffered. People were injured; people died. People died while we were there,” he said.

He defended the compensation programme and urged victims not to reject payments they consider insufficient.

According to Oburu, the compensation should not be viewed as placing a value on human life but as recognition of the harm suffered and an acknowledgement by the state.

“When a government has recognised that there were some wrongs done to Kenyans and they have agreed to budget for it and pay it out, it is like a little token,” he said.

Oburu credited the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with pushing for the compensation programme during engagements with President William Ruto, describing it as one of the issues included in the broad-based government's 10-point agenda.

He said compensation should be treated as a starting point rather than the conclusion of efforts to address injustices suffered by victims of police brutality and political violence.

He also urged Kenyans not to prevent affected persons from receiving the compensation currently being offered.

Authorities have maintained that demonstrations must comply with legal requirements, including prior notification to police, arguing that security agencies cannot effectively provide protection without information on the planned routes, timing and nature of the protests.

Oburu reiterated that every person has a right to participate in lawful demonstrations and urged protesters to avoid violence and the destruction of property.

“Please don’t carry stones, don’t carry rungus, don’t carry knives, don’t carry machetes. Come out peacefully and demonstrate,” he said.

Professor Makau Mutua said the compensation process had already commenced and remained ongoing.

“We want to state that the compensation process kicked off yesterday and is still ongoing,” Mutua said.

He added that the payments were not intended to place a monetary value on human life but to acknowledge and support affected victims.