In a powerful show of remembrance and defiance, members of Generation Z gathered at the ACK Cathedral in Mombasa on Tuesday morning for special prayers ahead of planned nationwide protests. The solemn service honoured the memory of those who lost their lives during the anti-Finance Bill protests held on June 25, 2024.
Clad in white T-shirts and scarves bearing the Kenyan national flag colours, the young attendees carried portraits of their fallen peers now regarded as martyrs in the struggle for justice. “Justice for our Mashujaa” and “Silence will no longer be our language” were among the poignant messages emblazoned on posters carried by mourners.
The emotional service was attended not only by youths but also by civil society activists and residents who stood in solidarity with the families of victims of police brutality and alleged extrajudicial killings. The call for justice echoed through prayers, speeches, and moments of silence, highlighting a collective yearning for accountability and reform.
This memorial comes a day before the anticipated June 25, 2025, protests marking one year since the fatal demonstrations that erupted in opposition to the controversial Finance Bill 2024. Those protests were met with a heavy police response, leading to several reported deaths and injuries, most of them among young people.
In response, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has indicated the government’s willingness to engage with affected families. Speaking at a State House breakfast with FKF Premier League champions on Monday, Murkomen expressed openness to dialogue, stating: “From a human perspective, we are ready to meet their families… and see what else we can do to support them.”
He added that both his ministry and President William Ruto’s office are open to conversations, urging political players to allow room for such engagements.
As Gen Z prepares to once again take to the streets, this time in remembrance and renewed resolve, the message is clear: the demand for justice remains urgent—and their voices will not be silenced.
