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A section of Uhuru Park in Nairobi has been filled with white crosses wrapped up in Kenyan flags bearing the names of some of the people who lost their lives during the anti-government protests.

The white crosses were strategically mounted a distance from where the memorial concert is being held in honour of protest victims.

Different attendees visited the site where the crosses were erected and paid their respect to those who lost their lives.

“They were so young, why kill young people? Why should you shoot someone why?” one of the attendees shouted.

“Some have graduated and were just demonstrating over lack of jobs, why were they killed?” he stated in an emotional tone.

Names of victims

Some of the names printed on the crosses included that of Rex Kanyike Masai, who was among the victims of the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests.

Other names on the crosses erected at Uhuru Park included that of a 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango, a boy killed by a bullet during anti-government demonstrations in Ongata Rongai and Beasley Kamau among others.

Some crosses were mounted to honour those who were arbitrarily arrested and detained during the demonstrations.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported that at least 39 people were killed and hundreds more injured in anti-government demonstrations.

“Data from our records indicates that 39 people have died and 361 [have been] injured in relation to the protests countrywide,” the body said in a statement, adding that the figures covered the period from June 18, 2024, to July 1, 2024.

It also said there had been 32 cases of enforced or involuntary disappearances and 627 arrests of protesters.

In a roundtable interview, President William Ruto however noted that he has no blood in his hands. In subsequent interviews, he assured the families of those killed in the protests that justice would be served.

“I have no blood on my hands. 19 people to the record that I have been dead. Very unfortunate, as a democracy that should not be part of our conversation,” Ruto stated when he was asked about what thinks about the lives that have been lost.

Concert in honour of victims

With the state still planning on how to honour those killed during demonstrations, an event dubbed Shujaaz Memorial Concert has been organised at Uhuru Park.

This is after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja opened the doors of the iconic park for the event organisers.

Several artists are expected to perform and send their tributes to those who lost their lives during the protests. The event is expected to end at 7:00 pm.

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