Architects’ body wants independent probe into deaths
By Allen Valentine, June 30, 2025Architects want the formation of an independent inquiry to look into the death of teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody and other protest-related fatalities.
In a statement, the Architects Alliance (TAA) urged the President, the Cabinet, and the leadership of Parliament to immediately demonstrate, “in both word and deed, that they remain a government of the people.”
According to the organisation, this includes initiating an independent inquiry into the death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody and the other protest-related fatalities, repealing all unconstitutional orders that restrict freedoms of expression and association, and committing to national dialogue with genuine stakeholders—not token forums or empty rhetoric.
“We now appeal directly to the Kenyan people. Sovereignty rests with you. In the spirit of patriotism and civic responsibility, we encourage all Kenyans—especially the youth—to channel their grievances through structured, inclusive platforms that offer tangible solutions,” TAA said in a statement signed by its representative, Sylvia Kasanga.
TAA said it will continue to monitor developments closely and lend its professional voice to all efforts that advance truth, justice, and reconciliation.
“Let us mobilise professionally, creatively, and peacefully to address the urgent issues facing our country: unemployment, public debt, insecurity, and failing public services. We urge all sectors—civil society, faith institutions, academia, private enterprise, and government—to come together,” the statement read.
Kasanga said as professionals who contribute to the shaping of Kenya’s physical and social landscape, TAA remains steadfastly committed to monitoring national developments that affect Kenyans’ shared prosperity and the values enshrined in the constitution.
“It is our belief that Kenya’s future is best built not through fear or force, but through bold, honest, and people-driven engagement. We believe in the transformative power of architecture to create safe, healthy, and sustainable environments that foster justice, equity, and prosperity for all,” TAA said.
Condoling families that lost loved ones during last year and last Wednesday’s protests, TAA regretted that “these lives are precious and irreplaceable—were not lost to strangers, but to those constitutionally mandated to protect them.
As we stand in solidarity with the bereaved, we reflect on the gravity of this moment in our nation’s conscience.”
TAA said Ojwang’s death and the nationwide protests marking the one-year anniversary of the 2024 youth-led demonstrations against the Finance Bill jolted the conscience of the nation.
“We note with sorrow that no fewer than sixteen Kenyans have lost their lives, while many others suffered grave injuries as security forces responded with disproportionate and excessive force. This needless loss of life is a direct indictment of state accountability mechanisms and a grim reminder of the fragility of civil liberties when power goes unchecked.”
TAA said the root causes of these recurring disquiet and subsequent brutal suppression of dissent lie in longstanding and unresolved structural issues. These include rampant police brutality and the lack of transparent mechanisms to hold rogue officers accountable, chronic youth unemployment and widespread economic marginalisation, and a dangerous erosion of public trust in state institutions.
According to the statement, the voice of an entire generation—Kenya’s Gen Z—is crying out for justice, inclusion, dignity, and economic opportunity. These demands cannot be answered with bullets and tear gas.
The association expressed grave concern over the extensive damage to private property and business premises that occurred in the wake of the protests. They noted that the destruction, regardless of its origin, has inflicted further harm on livelihoods already strained by the cost of living and economic stagnation, it said.
“Rebuilding confidence and stability requires more than condemnation. It demands accountability, justice, and forward-looking action.”
TAA further unequivocally condemned the government’s actions in attempting to suppress media freedom during the protests.
The arbitrary shutdown of broadcast media and internet-based channels, even if temporary, it said, was a gross violation of the right to information and freedom of the press as guaranteed under Article 34 of the Constitution.
“We thank the Judiciary for promptly intervening to reinstate affected media houses. This ruling affirms the centrality of judicial independence and constitutional supremacy in our democracy. Gagging the press is not only unconstitutional—it is authoritarian. We call upon state actors to uphold, not undermine, the freedoms that form the cornerstone of our Republic,” the statement said.