Families of Kenya Gen Z protest victims gather outside parliament despite heavy police deployment for Nairobi

Families of pipo wey lose dia loved ones during Kenya 2024 Finance Bill protest gather outside Parliament on Wednesday to mark di second anniversary of di protest, as dem lay flowers and call for justice despite heavy security lockdown for di capital city.

Access to Parliament and most parts of Nairobi city centre bin dey restricted, as authorities block roads and deploy plenty security personnel.

Na only small number of parents, activists and opposition politicians manage reach near Parliament for di remembrance event.

One of di pipo wey gather na Caroline Mutisya, wey lose her son, Erickson Kyalo Mutisya, near Parliament during di protest.

“I come here today to remember my son wey dem kill just 50 metres from Parliament building and to demand justice for im death,” she tell BBC.

Mutisya say di heavy police presence make am difficult for families to speak freely during di event.

“I come here to remember my son, but I no feel safe enough to express myself because of di warnings wey police give,” she talk.

Another parent, Jacinta Anyango, say her 12-year-old son, Kennedy Onyango, die during protest for Ongata Rongai, outskirts of Nairobi, where police and protesters clash.

“All I want na make government bring di officers wey kill our children come bifor us and make dem apologise,” she talk. “E no go bring back my son, but e go mean something.”

She say e dey painful say two years later, nobody don answer for wetin happun.

“Who di president expect make vote for am next year if e continue dey kill us like dis?” she lament.

Tension briefly rise outside Parliament when small group of activists get confrontation with police, wey lead to several arrests.

At one point, grieving parents and activists sit down for road, dey beg police make dem allow dem lay flowers near Parliament area. Later, dem place di flowers on top barbed-wire barricades wey block nearby streets.

Nairobi city centre mostly empty as security forces maintain roadblocks and restrict movement around important government buildings.

Protesters wey wrap dia bodies with Kenyan flags and carry white roses march for approved areas, dey sing and chant while police monitor dem from armoured vehicles, water cannon units, anti-riot police and some officers wey dey ride horses.

Heavy police deployment dey for Nairobi and oda major towns as di kontri dey mark di second anniversary of di Gen Z protests wey lead to di storming of Parliament on June 25, 2024.

Police don put roadblocks for key routes wey dey enter di capital, restricting access to di city centre and preventing public transport vehicles from entering di Central Business District, leaving many commuters stranded for di outskirts of Nairobi.

Roads wey lead go parliament and surrounding government offices don seal off wit razor wire and dem place dem under heavy police guard.

Many businesses for di city centre remain closed amid fears of unrest.

Large sections of downtown Nairobi unusually quiet, wit heavily armed police officers patrolling major intersections and govment precincts.

Despite di heavy security presence, opposition leaders, civil society groups, youth activists and families of victims say dem go ahead wit memorial processions and candle-lighting ceremonies for Nairobi and oda towns to honour those wey die during di 2024 protests and subsequent demonstrations.

Di anniversary mark two years since thousands of mostly young Kenyans breach Parliament during protests proposed tax increases, in one of di most dramatic challenges to state authority for di country's recent history.

Wetin start as opposition to di Finance Bill quickly evolve into broader movement driven by frustration over di rising cost of living, unemployment, corruption and police brutality and bad governance.

Organised largely through social media and without formal political leadership, di protests define new era of youth civic activism for Kenya.

Rights groups say more than 60 pipo bin die during di 2024 protests and di security crackdown wey follow.

During commemorations wey mark di first anniversary in 2025, anoda 16 pipo die and many odas wunjure during fresh demonstrations and clashes wit police.

Organisers say dis year events no be only to remember those wey die, but also to renew calls for accountability over protest-related deaths, injuries and allegations of police abuse.

Di govment indicate say e go facilitate peaceful demonstrations but warn say e go act firmly against criminality and violence.