Exactly a year since the anti-Finance Bill protests that permanently destroyed the lives of numerous families and individuals in Kenya, injured Gen Zs continue to demand justice and compensation from the government.

What seemed like a glimmer of hope after President William Ruto promised to compensate families of victims as well as affected individuals, today remains a pipedream for young Kenyans who were maimed by police during the protests.

Until today, nothing has been forthcoming from the government, amid the loud silence by the very leaders who promised justice, a nagging reminder of their fading memory.  

There are those who live with bullets lodged inside their bodies, others with lost limbs, and some who are struggling with mobility and health complications, still waiting for compensation.

Rogers Mwabe, 32, who was shot twice in his right leg during the Githurai protests, had to immediately undergo an amputation that has since left him struggling to sustain his family.

The father of one who was shot while on normal work duties says life has been very hard as he can no longer work as a mechanic, forcing him to try and at least get compensation from the government.

“I haven’t received anything or even heard from the government. No one has come to me ever since the incident. I have been going to IPOA (Independent Policing Oversight Authority) to try and seek justice so I can get compensation and justice, but despite recording my statements, nothing has been done,” says Mwabe.

Government silence

As time continues to pass by with the government not making any move, Mwabe is losing hope on the compensation promise, yet life continues to become unbearable.

“The government is still silent. I’m not even sure they will help us. The fact that they did not help cover my bill, which accumulated to Ksh110,000 after my amputation, speaks volumes. The donations from Kenyans covered my bill. So, at least the government should be accountable and compensate us,” implores Mwabe.

Twenty-five-year-old Dennis Wachira Wanjiku from Nyahururu, who was also shot in his right leg, leading to an amputation, is demanding justice, accountability and compensation from the government.

Wanjiku was a car interior designer who has been forced to adjust to a new life, relying on his family for survival.

“We heard that the government was going to compensate families of victims and those who were injured. So, we tried for a while, to but we did not get any help. The government has not reached out to us who got injured, and reaching them has also been in vain,” narrates Wanjiku.

Due to the government’s reluctance, they resorted to seeking the intervention of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), but still their efforts proved futile.

“We compiled everything we needed and took our documents to LSK at their offices in Westlands. We have been following up, and it has been three months now, and yet no communication from both the government and LSK,” he says.

Tobius Thuo, 24, who was shot in his left leg near his private parts right at the heart of the protests inside Parliament buildings, has been left with damages that force him to visit the hospital every week.

While he can still walk, he still has mobility difficulties, and the burden of hospital bills with every therapy weighs heavily on him.

Selective justice

“That day changed everything. We were only fighting for our rights, but they turned on us. Right now, I can only survive through hand-to-mouth. I don’t have the money yet, the hospital bills are very expensive because every visit comes with an expense. We were peaceful, and the government should do something to at least cushion this suffering,” says Thuo.

As they continue to call for justice and compensation, the recent compensation of victims of police brutality, Albert Ojwang, has triggered anger and frustration, terming the move as discriminatory and selective justice.

“We have been crying for justice and compensation since last year. One year down the line, the government has done nothing. Then, just the other day, the President and his people hurriedly compensated Ojwang’s family. What about us, are our permanent wounds not reason enough to be compensated?” wonders Peter Ekale, 21, who survived gunshot wounds on his left leg but was left with health complications and mobility issues.

Initially, Ruto had pledged to compensate victims of police brutality during the protests and equally promised stern action against abductions and extrajudicial killings against individuals perceived to have been behind the demonstrations.

As the young survivors continue to call for justice and compensation, they are left to heal on their own, rebuild broken bodies, and reckon with a country that once praised them for their courage but now treats them as ghosts.

Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura could not be reached for comment.