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Thousands of Kenyans turn up at Uhuru Park to celebrate the dead and injured during the protests

Uhuru Park grounds yesterday witnessed one of the biggest rallies as thousands of Kenyans, mainly the so-called Gen Z and millennials, turned up to commemorate the dozens of youths who were killed during the recent anti-Finance Bill protests across the country.

The event, timed to coincide with his[1]toric Saba Saba day and dubbed Shujaaz Memorial concert, saw thousands of youth turn up dressed in black and waving Kenyan flags to honour those killed during the countrywide protests. Yesterday’s event was the culmination of protests witnessed in at least 35 out of the 47 counties across the country over the last three weeks, mainly protesting the punitive Finance Bill 2024 and poor governance by the Kenya Kwanza government.

While the state puts the death toll from the protests at 25, human rights groups maintain the figure is much higher. According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), at least 43 people were killed during the demonstrations, some as young as eight, and over 600 injured in various parts of the country.

 Those in attendance at the Uhuru Park event demanded justice for those who lost their lives and those who sustained injuries or lost property during the protests, mainly blamed on rogue police officers.

Punctuated by “Ruto must go” chants, the event saw speaker after speaker called for a change in government, terming the current regime incompetent and corrupt. Unpopular laws Speakers also called for the immediate dissolution of both the Cabinet and Parliament, saying the current crop of MPs had failed Kenyans by passing unpopular laws such as the Finance Bill 2024 and the motion to deploy the military to quell the otherwise peaceful protests.

Several celebrities entertained the multitude as police in full anti-riot gear watched the proceedings from a distance. Security was beefed up in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) and key government installations ahead of the Thousands of Kenyans turned up at Uhuru Park to celebrate the dead and injured during the protests concert.

Protesters erected makeshift crosses bearing the names of Kenyans who died during anti-tax protests.

The white crosses were adorned with the Kenyan flag. At the All Saints Cathedral Church, the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) also hosted a special memorial service to remember those who lost their lives or suffered injuries during the three-week protests to push for the rejection of the Finance bill 2024 and bag governance. Speaking at the service yesterday, Nelson Matanda, the immediate outgoing Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya of[1]fered their condolences and prayers to the bereaved families and condemned the use of brutal force on unarmed and peaceful protestors.

 “Never have we experienced such national pain since the post-election violence of 2007/2008. In many ways what we have experienced in the last few weeks was unprecedented and never before have we had such moments in our budding democracy,” he said. The church also acknowledged and thanked all those who stepped in to offer every level of support to protestors such as those who offered medical services, food, and water.

Pay tribute

“We want the killings of all the young people investigated. We want the Independent Police Oversight Authority, IPOA, whom we have not heard a single statement from the body if they are not capable of doing the job to be disbanded,” said Chris Kinyanjui Kamau, the NCCK General Secretary. A few meters away at the Holy Family Basilica, hundreds of youths also turned up to pay tribute to dozens of people who were killed in the anti-finance bill protests in various parts of the country.

The gathering, mainly youths, donned black and red outfits and carried the Kenyan national flags, rosaries, and roses in memory of the 39 victims of the protests. Led by Catholic bishop Simon Kamomee, the congregation prayed for peace to prevail in the country and healing to the hundreds who suffered injuries during the three-week protests in over 35 of the country’s 47 counties.