Sometime in 2024, youths in Kenya rose up against punitive taxes that were about to be introduced in the country’s Finance Bill.
What started as a push to force the State to drop some punitive items in the document grew into agitation by the Kenyan youths for the political class to offer quality leadership, end corruption among other challenges.
Thus on June 25, 2025 the youths under the GenZ movement stormed into the Kenyan parliament in Nairobi as the Members of Parliament were trying to forcefully pass the Finance Bill.
On the material day, similar protests were witnessed in other parts of the country and in the aftermath more than 60 youths were shot dead and thousands injured.
One case was that of Kennedy Onyango, a 12-year-old boy who was shot dead in Ongata Rongai town, about 20 kilometres from Nairobi.
One year later, Onyango’s mother Jacinta Anyango is yet to recover from the loss; events of the day are still fresh in Anyango’s mind who says every time it crosses her mind; she breaks down for long hours.
“He was going to pick a book from one or his friend who is desk mate within the neighborhood,” she recalls
“That time he had completed the task but he insisted to go for the book while I was preparing some meals around since he had not eaten anything,” the mother added
Anyango says minutes after the boy had left, their father called asking her not to allow the children to go out since there were demonstrations within Ongata-Rongai and police officers were opening fire on the protestors but the boy was already out of sight.
She recalls that when she stepped out she bumped into one of Kennedy’s teachers who had watched on social media that a boy had been shot by police in the neighbourhood in a widely circulated video on Tik-tok.
“My heart skipped a beat when I heard about the shooting and why Kennedy’s teacher has arrived to ask me about his whereabouts,” she added
Her fears were shortly confirmed when one of the neighbours who had watched the clip of the shooting gave a description that matched those of Anyango’s son.
“In the video, I saw him being ferried on motorbike by good samaritans towards Ongata- Rongai hospital and when I followed I found him in the morgue, his body was already cold,” she said
The mother says from the wounds on Kennedy’s shoulder and chest area, it appeared that the boy was shot at point blank.
“I think he was shot from behind and the bullets exited from the front, several times,” Anyango added.
On June 30, 2024 during a live interview with media houses President Ruto dismissed that Kennedy was killed by a police officer adding that he will one day personally explain to Anyango what really transpired.
The Head of State explained that on the material day, police officers were overpowered by protestors and at one-point a civilian snatched a gun from a police officer and used it against the police.
“One of the police officers had to shoot the fellow who had hijacked a gun from a policeman so as not to endanger the lives of more citizens. I cannot confirm to you if the man is the one who shot the child,” President Ruto explained during the interview.
“But investigations are going on and we will get to the bottom of it, I’m telling the mother of the young person that I as the President that finally I will give her an explanation of what really happened and make sure that her child can be accounted for,” he added
Just before Kennedy was buried, Anyango recalls watching on television the President talking about her son’s case with a promise of reaching out to the family so that justice will be served.
Days later, Anyango says she received a call from State House staff who told her the President was on line and would like to talk to her over the matter.
“That was on July 4, 2024 before burial of Kennedy, some neighbours were in the house and I decided to put my phone on loudspeaker so that we can all hear the President,” she stated
Adding that “He apologised and promised to call me so that we can talk and ensure that Kennedy gets justice because he was a child,”
Days and months have since passed but Anyango says no one has ever called her despite a promise that kept their hopes alive that justice will be served.
