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Post Reply: One Year Later: Justice Eludes Victims of Kenya’s 2024 Protest Deaths as IPOA Investigations Stall

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on April 29, 2025, 10:34 pm</div><div id="pl-5170"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-5170-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-5170-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-5170-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
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	<p>A year after violent anti-Finance Bill protests rocked Kenya, leaving at least 60 people dead, justice remains elusive for the victims and their families. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), tasked with investigating the deaths, has completed probes into only 22 cases, with 36 others still ongoing and no officers held accountable, fueling public outrage and distrust in the system.</p>
<p>On June 25, 2024, thousands of Kenyans, predominantly youth, took to the streets to protest the controversial Finance Bill, which proposed heavy tax hikes amid economic hardship. The demonstrations, initially peaceful, turned deadly as security forces clashed with protesters, particularly in Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Kakamega. Live broadcasts on national television and social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram captured harrowing scenes of police and military personnel firing on crowds, with many deaths attributed to gunshot wounds. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and other watchdogs reported at least 60 fatalities, 150 serious injuries, and several abductions during the unrest.</p>
<p>The public outcry was immediate, with demands for accountability echoing across the country. Kenya’s constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest, and the deaths sparked accusations of excessive force by the Kenya Police Service and, in some cases, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). A parliamentary committee ordered IPOA to investigate and publicize its findings, but progress has been painfully slow. “Despite the gravity of these incidents, no report regarding the killings at parliament has been issued, and no one has been held to account,” a recent BBC investigation noted, highlighting the impunity surrounding the events.</p>
<p>IPOA’s latest update, released on April 28, 2025, revealed that of the 60 recorded deaths, investigations into 22 have been concluded, while 36 remain active. The authority has not disclosed whether these investigations have identified culpable officers or led to recommendations for prosecution. This lack of transparency has drawn sharp criticism from activists and victims’ families, who accuse IPOA of dragging its feet under political pressure. “The reason Kenya police behave with such impunity is because they know they can,” posted @samirasawlani on X in 2024, a sentiment that continues to resonate.</p>
<p>A recent BBC documentary, Blood Parliament, further intensified scrutiny by identifying specific police officers and a KDF soldier allegedly involved in the killings outside Kenya’s parliament. The exposé prompted IPOA to reiterate its mandate but offered little in the way of concrete outcomes. The Kenya Police Service, responding to the allegations, stated that it cannot investigate itself and deferred responsibility to IPOA. Meanwhile, the KDF told the BBC that IPOA had not formally requested investigations into its personnel, raising questions about coordination and commitment to accountability.</p>
<p>The delays have compounded the grief of families like that of Rex Masai, a 29-year-old protester killed in Nairobi. His mother, Gillian Munyao, described the agony of waiting for justice: “Every day feels like a wound reopened. We see the videos, we know who was there, yet nothing happens.” Similar stories echo across the country, with families in Kisumu and Eldoret holding memorials for loved ones while demanding answers.</p>
<p>Civil society groups argue that the slow pace of investigations reflects deeper systemic issues, including underfunding and political interference in IPOA’s work. “IPOA has not made any meaningful progress,” posted @moneyacademyKE on X, reflecting widespread frustration. The authority, established to curb police misconduct, has faced criticism for its limited capacity to handle high-profile cases, with only a handful of convictions in its history.</p>
<p>The lack of accountability has broader implications for Kenya’s democracy. The 2024 protests, driven by economic discontent and distrust in governance, exposed fault lines that remain unaddressed. President William Ruto’s administration, which eventually withdrew the Finance Bill, has struggled to rebuild public confidence amid ongoing economic challenges and global trade pressures. Recent moves to strengthen ties with China and the EU, including a $950 million deal for infrastructure projects, have done little to quell domestic unrest over unresolved human rights abuses.</p>
<p>As Kenya marks one year since the protests, the call for justice grows louder. Activists are planning vigils and renewed demonstrations to pressure IPOA and the government to act. “We will not forget, and we will not be silenced,” said Boniface Mwangi, a prominent activist. For now, the families of the fallen wait, their hope for closure fading with each passing day.</p>
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