NAIROBI, Kenya- Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has called on Kenyans to participate in peaceful memorial processions on June 25, saying the marches are intended to honour young people who died during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests and demand accountability for their deaths.
In a statement issued ahead of the commemorations, Mwangi said demonstrators plan to march to Parliament and lay flowers in memory of what he described as Gen Z heroes whose lives were cut short during last year’s protests.
“Tomorrow, we are marching peacefully to Parliament to lay flowers for the Gen Z heroes whose lives were ruthlessly cut short by police bullets,” Mwangi said.
The activist said organisers had formally notified authorities of the planned route and called on the government to provide security for participants and businesses along the procession route.
He argued that facilitating peaceful assembly is a constitutional obligation and not a favour granted by the State.
The planned march is part of wider nationwide commemorations marking the anniversary of the June 25, 2024 protests, which culminated in the storming of Parliament and left dozens of people dead, injured or missing according to rights groups.
Families of victims, activists and civil society groups have in recent weeks notified police of their intention to hold peaceful memorial processions and lay flowers outside Parliament as a tribute to those who lost their lives during the demonstrations.
Organisers have maintained that the events are intended to be peaceful acts of remembrance and solidarity with victims’ families, while also renewing calls for justice and accountability. Participants are expected to carry flowers, candles and Kenyan flags during the commemorations.
Mwangi also encouraged Kenyans outside Nairobi to visit families of those who died during the protests and support them during the anniversary period.
“Their sacrifice shall not be forgotten, and one day their killers and their masters will be held accountable,” he said.
The call comes amid heightened security preparations ahead of the commemorations.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said police will facilitate peaceful demonstrations while taking action against individuals involved in violence, looting or destruction of property.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya, have urged security agencies to respect constitutional rights and ensure peaceful memorial processions proceed without interference.
As the country marks the second anniversary of one of Kenya’s most consequential protest movements, organisers say the commemorations are intended to honour the dead, support survivors and ensure the events of June 2024 remain part of the country’s collective memory.
