Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has weighed in on the planned Gen Z-led demonstrations set for Thursday, which will mark a remembrance of young people killed during the 2024 Finance Bill protests, cautioning against what she termed as political exploitation of tragedy and renewed unrest.
In a statement, Nyamu argued that deaths during protests are not unique to the current administration, saying Kenya has a long history of fatalities linked to demonstrations and state security operations under successive governments.
“People have died in every protest and under every administration in Kenya’s history. Let’s stop the selective amnesia,” she said, urging a broader national reflection on past incidents of violence.
Nyamu referenced multiple historical periods, citing alleged figures of deaths and disappearances under different administrations, including the governments of former Presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, and the current administration of President William Ruto.
She further claimed that past tragedies, including the 1969 Kisumu clashes, the Saba Saba protests, anti-crime crackdowns, and recent post-2023 demonstrations, have not received equal public remembrance, questioning why attention is being focused on only one political era.
“It is pure hypocrisy for politicians to pretend to be so angry today when they cheered or stayed silent during past administrations,” she added, accusing political actors of selectively using past and present deaths for political messaging.
Nyamu also warned that the upcoming protests could result in further loss of life, urging restraint as organizers push for remembrance of victims of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.
“The saddest part is that we are going to lose more young people this Thursday at the anniversary, just for your politics,” she said.
The planned protests come amid renewed debate over police conduct, accountability, and the handling of demonstrations in Kenya.
Human rights groups and youth movements continue to call for justice for victims of past protests, while government-aligned leaders maintain that public order must be preserved.