Kivutha Kibwana proposes 10-point plan to address protest atrocities
By Kenneth Mwenda, August 10, 2025Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has released a ten-point plan in response to the violent incidents during the June 25, 2024/2025 demonstrations and the recent Saba Saba protests, which left many young Kenyans injured, missing, or dead.
Through a series of posts on X on August 10, 2025, Kibwana urged the government to take full responsibility for what he described as “gross wrong-doing” against Gen Z and other protesters. He stressed that the first step should be for the state to admit its mistakes and promise never to repeat such actions.
He called for an immediate and categorical withdrawal of any “shoot to maim or kill” orders, as well as similar directives. According to him, accountability must be central to the process, and all those involved in the violence should face justice in a transparent manner.
Justice, reform, and accountability
Kibwana’s plan also demands that all court cases against demonstrators be withdrawn and that those who paid bail be refunded. He urged the government to locate and release all missing persons who were abducted during the protests, returning them safely to their families. Furthermore, he proposed that civil courts fast-track and conclude cases involving victims of state violence.
Another key point in his plan is a verified audit of all victims, to be conducted and published by the Interior Ministry, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHRC), and human rights defenders. He insisted that the recently announced victim compensation programme should not be turned into a political tool to sway voters ahead of future elections.
In addition, Kibwana recommended the creation of a genuine National Youth Marshall Empowerment Plan to address the needs and aspirations of young Kenyans. He also called for the government to fully implement the 2013 Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report, along with other reports on human rights abuses dating back to 1963.
“A State that fights its youth, kills the future,” Kibwana delivered ended in a stark warning.
