The Kenyan government has broken its silence and is now reaching out to families whose loved ones were killed in recent anti-government protests.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen made the announcement during a high-profile event at State House.
But the timing has raised eyebrows, as the country braces for fresh demonstrations over the controversial Finance Bill and lingering anger over past promises that remain unfulfilled.
Government Offers Dialogue to Families of Protest Victims
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has invited the families of those who died during protests to reach out to his ministry for engagement and support.
Speaking on Monday at State House, Murkomen addressed the issue during a breakfast meeting with the newly crowned Kenya Premier League champions, Police FC. He acknowledged the pain and loss experienced by families whose children were killed, allegedly at the hands of police officers.
“In the Ministry we are ready to meet those who have lost their children as a result of these political acts,” said Murkomen. “It doesn’t matter what happened. From a human perspective, we are ready to meet their families and have a conversation with them.”
The remarks come at a tense time for the government, just days before another round of nationwide protests. The recent demonstrations have turned deadly, with multiple cases of police brutality, including fatal shootings of young protesters.
Murkomen’s call for dialogue follows public outcry over the lack of justice and broken promises from top government officials. Critics say the outreach is too little, too late.
His statement also comes a day after Jocinter Anyango, mother of Kennedy Onyango, a teenager shot dead during the June 27, 2024, protests, accused President William Ruto of failing to keep his promise to meet her.
Speaking during a church service on June 22, Jocinter said Ruto had called her personally and promised a sit-down at State House. That meeting never happened.
Murkomen Shifts Tone but Denies Government Negligence
While acknowledging the loss, Murkomen dismissed claims that the government was ignoring the families. Instead, he accused political actors of trying to sabotage any effort to resolve the matter through dialogue.
“Our doors are open, and Your Excellency, I’m sure your door is also open, and the IG’s door is open,” he said, referring to President Ruto and Inspector General Douglas Kanja.
Flanked by DCI boss Mohamed Amin and IG Kanja, Murkomen said there is political goodwill to meet with the victims’ families and find closure. However, he cautioned against the involvement of what he termed “political scavengers” trying to use the victims’ pain for personal gain.
“We want to ask those political scavengers to keep off and allow those families to visit us and let us have a conversation on how best to help them move forward,” Murkomen stated.
Despite the offer, many families remain skeptical, citing the government’s failure to deliver on earlier commitments. Some are demanding not just dialogue, but justice and compensation for the lives lost.
Justice Delayed for Families of Protest Victims
Several families have come out publicly to criticize the slow and selective manner in which the government is addressing the deaths of protesters. While some, like the family of Albert Ojwang—a blogger who died in police custody—received Ksh2 million from President Ruto, others say they’ve been left out entirely.
Ojwang’s death sparked national outrage, and pressure from civil society groups forced the government to respond. His family’s compensation was seen as a political move, done under duress.
For other victims, the government’s silence has been deafening. Families say they have neither received condolences nor any form of financial support. No arrests have been made in connection to many of the fatal shootings.
The growing discontent comes amid preparations for fresh protests, with opposition leaders and civil rights groups accusing the state of weaponizing law enforcement against its own people.
With renewed protests looming, Murkomen’s offer may be an attempt to cool rising public anger. But unless the government matches its words with concrete action—justice, compensation, and accountability—the wounds will only deepen.
