Nairobi, Kenya – June 25, 2024 is a date many families in Kenya now mark in silence. What began as youth-led protests against the Finance Bill escalated into nationwide demonstrations, with protesters entering Parliament grounds during the unrest. In the violence that followed, people were killed and others went missing, according to rights groups and official tallies. Two years later, some families say they are still searching for answers.The Human Rights Watch World Report 2026 said 26 people linked to the 2024 anti-finance bill protests and 15 linked to 2025 demonstrations remain missing.On Tuesday, families of those killed, alongside civil society groups and members of the public, held a memorial march in Nairobi to mark the anniversary and call for accountability and police reform.The cost of dissent“I don’t like seeing Denzel’s pictures and videos. They are a painful reminder of my son. When an anniversary like this comes, I find myself crying. That is why I stay away from public conversations about these things,” said James Otieno, who told Al Jazeera he is the father of Denzel Omondi.Denzel Omondi, 23, went missing days after he took part in the #OccupyParliament protests. His family said he was arrested by police at a house in Nairobi where he was staying with relatives, shortly after posting a video showing protesters inside Parliament.Otieno said no one has been held accountable for his son’s death and that the family is …
