Calls for justice for victims of recent protests continue to grow louder, with leaders now urging the government to go beyond words and offer real compensation to the affected families. Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has been one of the strongest voices on this matter, insisting that any attempt to give minimal payouts would only add pain to grieving relatives.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s ‘Tonight’ show, he said that the process of calculating the amount should reflect the value of life and the potential that was lost.
“The only mistake these Gen Zs did was to fight against the high cost of living, overtaxation, unemployment and reduction of university fees. Then the government went further to destroy their lives, kill them, and to give pain to their families. A life can never be compensated, even though now our comrades are resting in peace,” Owino said.
He explained that if the average victim, aged 25, had lived a full life up to 90 years, they would have had 65 productive years ahead of them.
This, he argued, should form the basis of determining how much each family should be given.
Owino used a baseline monthly income of Ksh.30,000 to illustrate his point, calculating that each victim would have earned at least Ksh.23.4 million across their lifetime, with some potentially earning much more depending on their career growth.
“If the government wants to be genuine, then they should compensate them for the 65 years. Assuming that each person who died was to earn a minimum of Ksh.30,000 per month, in a year, it would be Ksh.30,000 times 12, which is Ksh.360,000,” he said.
“Then multiply for the rest of the 65 years remaining, you will get Ksh.23,400,000…on the minimum, that the government should compensate each family…to a maximum of over Ksh.100 million.” He added that token compensation would amount to dismissing the value of the lives that were lost.
The MP’s remarks came on the same day a committee was sworn in to manage compensation for victims of demonstrations and protests going back to 2017.
The committee is chaired by Prof. Makau Mutua, President William Ruto’s senior advisor on constitutional affairs and human rights, and is tasked with implementing the August 8 proclamation by the President on compensation.
Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo will serve as vice chairperson, while other members include Kennedy N. Ogeto, Irungu Houghton, John Olukuru, Rev. Kennedy Barasa Simiyu, Linda Musumba, Duncan Ojwang’, Naini Lankas, Francis Muraya, Juliet Chepkemei, Pius Metto, Fatuma Kinsi Abass and Raphael Anampiu. Richard Barno will serve as Technical Lead, Duncan A. Okelo Ndeda as Co-Technical Lead, and Jerusah Mwaathime Michael and Raphael Ng’etich as Joint Secretaries.
Owino warned that if the government does not act meaningfully, it risks making the deaths appear insignificant and eroding public trust.
He urged transparency and urgency in the process, stressing that financial redress is not just about money but also about recognising the value of those who died and giving their families a measure of justice and closure.
