Jacinta Anyango (left), mother of 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango, who died during last year's protests; former Chief Justice David Maraga (centre); and Gillian Munyao (right), mother of the late Rex Masai, who was also killed during similar protests, march along Kimathi Street in Nairobi on June 25, 2025.
What was meant to be a solemn remembrance turned into chaos on Nairobi’s Kimathi Street on Wednesday, as grieving families who lost loved ones in the June 25, 2024, protests were engulfed in tear gas fired by police—ironically while demanding justice for the very brutality that claimed their kin.
The families had gathered along Kimathi Street and begun marching towards Moi Avenue to lay flowers at the spot where the first victim of the anti-government protests Rex Masai was shot.
However, they were forced to scatter for safety after police fired several tear gas canisters in their direction.
A section of the group took refuge at Nation Centre for several hours before relocating to Java Restaurant, where they spent the rest of the day as police engaged with protesters.
Ms Jacinta Ochieng, whose son Kennedy Odhiambo succumbed to bullet injuries following the anti-government protests that rocked the country in June 2024, told Nation that the families had planned to walk through various spots to conduct prayers and lay flowers in memory of the victims.
“I carried rose flowers and came to commemorate my son who was brutally killed by the same police. We had gathered and were ready to march, but some police officers threw tear gas at us, and we scattered,” Ms Ochieng said.
A series of police vehicles sped along Kimathi Street releasing choking clouds of tear gas that sent mothers screaming and stumbling, clutching at one another as they tried to escape the sting of state force.
At one point as the situation escalated, former Chief Justice David Maraga was seen hurriedly guiding a group of distressed mothers toward Nation Centre for refuge.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga is shielded after being tear-gassed on Kimathi Street in Nairobi on June 25, 2025 during demonstrations marking a year since anti-government protesters stormed parliament, resulting in the deaths and injuries of many.
Tear gas canisters exploded behind them as several women unable to run clung to his arms for support.
“Why are they treating us like criminals? Is this the way the state plans to repay us?” asked Ms Gillian Munyao, the mother of Rex Masai, the first victim of the anti-government protests.
The crowd had intended to walk to symbolic sites in the city where protesters fell last June.
Ms Carolyne Mutisya, the mother of Erickson Mutisya who was shot outside Parliament in 2024, said she had given up hope of ever seeing justice for her son.
She said June 25 was the only day she could honour his memory.
“My son will never rest in peace until justice is found. Today was a remembrance day but it didn’t happen,” she added.
Mothers clutching portraits of their sons and human rights activists wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the words Justice for the Fallen scattered as tear gas choked the air.
Some dropped to the ground coughing; others wept openly not only from grief but from the fresh trauma inflicted at the very place they had come to speak their truth.
“I hadn’t even wiped my tears before they threw gas at us. What kind of country does this to mourning parents?” posed Ms Ochieng holding tightly to a framed photograph.
Mr Maraga said he had come in solidarity with the families to call for accountability over the 2024 protest killings.
“This is an affront to human dignity. Instead of offering answers, the state is offering more violence. We cannot heal as a country this way,” he said.
Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka also joined a section of opposition leaders at Holy Family Basilica before proceeding to lay flowers on Parliament Road. Parliament where many protesters were shot, remained barricaded by police.
“These are young Kenyans who came out to protest injustice. They deserve to be treated with dignity. All they want is justice, and we will ensure they get it. We urge the youth to come out and express themselves,” Mr Musyoka said.
