Those who were killed during anti-tax demos from left: Benson Mbithi, Evans Kitaru, Michael Kihuga, Austin Makhoka, Caroline Shiramba, Rex Masai, Eric Kayoni and Ibrahim Kamau.
Two years on from the Gen-Z-led nationwide anti-Finance Bill protests, which shook the country, dozens of court cases, constitutional petitions and police investigations remain unresolved, despite repeated promises of accountability.
Only three criminal cases arising from the 62 police-linked deaths recorded during the 2024 protests have reached court, while investigations into killings, disappearances, and alleged police abuses are still pending.
The mounting backlog, now compounded by fresh investigations into the 2025 Gen Z memorial and Saba Saba demonstrations, is putting the country's commitment to delivering justice for one of its deadliest episodes of police-citizen confrontation under increasing strain.
Dozens of youths arrested for participating in the 2024/25 anti-government demonstrations have faced criminal charges ranging from unlawful assembly and malicious damage to property, to robbery, handling stolen goods, obstructing police officers and terrorism-related offences. Following public criticism, prosecutors later dropped or reviewed several of these cases.
The latest developments emerged this week when the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) published a comprehensive update on the investigations into the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.
Gillian Munyao, the mother of the late Rex Masai, speaks to the media in Nairobi on June 25, 2026 after laying wreaths at Parliament Buildings in honour of her late son.
The police watchdog stated that it had recorded 62 deaths in connection with the protests, but that only three cases had met the evidentiary and prosecutorial threshold required for criminal trials.
Another three files have been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review and direction, while one remains under the IPOA's internal legal review.
Four investigations were closed following an internal review, five were closed after receiving directions from the ODPP, and 46 remain under active investigation.
The IPOA attributed the delays to the complexity of the investigations, stating that many depend on forensic examinations and ballistic analysis by the National Forensic Laboratory and reports from the Government Chemist, as well as sufficient evidence being available before prosecutors can approve charges.
"The three cases before court are those in which the evidence and prosecutorial thresholds have been met, enabling criminal proceedings to commence," the authority said.
The watchdog also revealed that it had launched investigations into 27 deaths connected to the Gen-Z memorial demonstrations in June 2025.
One case has reached court, while 26 remain under investigation. It has also recorded 38 deaths arising from the July 2025 Saba Saba protests, closing two cases internally and leaving 36 active investigations.
Collectively, the three waves of protests have resulted in 127 reported deaths, which are now under the IPOA's docket.
Criminal proceedings already before the courts include the inquest into the fatal shooting of Rex Masai, one of the earliest victims of the 2024 demonstrations.
This case has become a closely watched test of police accountability, as a police officer in plain clothes, Constable Isaiah Ndumba Murangiri, was placed at the centre of the killing.
However, the trial has exposed the investigative hurdles confronting many protest cases. Defence lawyers have questioned the quality of the evidence. Recent court proceedings have revealed that investigators failed to recover the bullet removed from Masai's body, secure spent cartridges, retrieve the alleged murder weapon, or preserve key CCTV footage.
Another high-profile prosecution concerns Constable Klinzy Baraza Masinde, a police officer charged with shooting mask vendor Boniface Kariuki during the June 2025 demonstrations.
This case is proceeding through the criminal courts alongside IPOA investigations into other police shootings reported during the anniversary protests.
Family members of victims who lost their lives during the 2024 Gen Z anti-Finance Bill protests with activists outside Parliament Buildings in Nairobi on June 25, 2026 during the second anniversary of the protests.
The day before the second anniversary, opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka argued that investigative failures were undermining justice, particularly in the case of Rex Masai. He believes that accountability should extend beyond the courtroom.
"The officer involved in the case may ultimately walk free, not because he has been found innocent, but because the evidence required to secure justice was never gathered. This is not merely a case of investigative negligence. It is a stark illustration of a system that too often shields perpetrators while failing victims," said Mr Musyoka, who is also a senior counsel advocate.
In addition to the criminal prosecutions, several constitutional petitions filed by individuals and civil society organisations are still pending before the High Court.
These include petitions that challenge the alleged unlawful surveillance of protesters' mobile phone data, restrictions on peaceful assembly, the conduct of the police during demonstrations, and the alleged enforced disappearances that are linked to the protests.
One of the pending cases is the Law Society of Kenya's petition, which challenges the alleged unlawful access to, sharing of, and use of protesters' mobile phone and subscriber data by State agencies and telecommunications companies, without court orders.
Katiba Institute's petition contesting the police barricades and closure of roads into Nairobi's central business district during the June 2025 Gen-Z anniversary protests is also pending, as these were deemed unconstitutional restrictions on the rights to peaceful assembly and movement.
Several petitions arising from the 2024 and 2025 protests challenge the arbitrary arrest and detention of hundreds of protesters without charge.
Other civil suits and constitutional petitions have been filed by the families of victims seeking accountability and compensation for protest-related killings, police shootings, and alleged violations of the right to life, dignity, and peaceful assembly.
The legal challenges also include a petition questioning the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces during the youth-led protests in June 2024.
Another lawsuit sought court orders to preserve and identify bodies believed to be linked to the demonstrations, after the Nairobi County government announced plans to dispose of unclaimed bodies.
The LSK sought orders compelling the authorities to carry out DNA sampling and identification before any disposal, on the grounds that some bodies could potentially be linked to individuals reported missing during or after the Gen-Z protests.
Constitutional challenges continue alongside compensation claims by the families of victims and judicial proceedings arising from the alleged abduction of activists during and after the demonstrations.
Jacinta Anyango, the mother of the late 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango, who was killed in Rongai during protests, weeps during the demonstrations marking the second anniversary of the Gen Z anti-Finance Bill protests outside Parliament Buildings on June 25, 2026.
Human rights organisations and lawyers have argued that delayed investigations risk impeding both criminal prosecutions and constitutional litigation. The State, however, maintains that investigations must satisfy the legal threshold before charges can be filed.
The IPOA has stated that completed investigations do not automatically result in prosecution, as some cases fail to meet evidentiary requirements.
"To sustain and enhance the delivery of justice beyond the reparations and compensation programme, IPOA has put in place several strategies, including the fast-tracking of investigations, implementation of a backlog reduction strategy, recruitment of additional investigators, and strengthening stakeholder relationships to ensure that IPOA matters receive priority attention," said IPOA Vice Chairperson Ann Wanjiku Mwangi.
It added that it was fast-tracking investigations, recruiting additional investigators, reducing case backlogs and strengthening cooperation with partner agencies to accelerate accountability.
As Kenya marked the second anniversary of the Gen-Z protests, the demonstrations have evolved from a defining political moment into a broad legal reckoning.
The outcome of the unresolved criminal trials, constitutional petitions and dozens of pending investigations is expected to shape public confidence in police accountability, prosecutorial decision-making and the justice system's response to one of the most significant protest movements in recent history.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
