As the country marked Jamhuri Day, human rights activist Hussein Khalid said Kenya is yet to attain full independence as long as victims of the Gen Z protests continue to wait for justice, truth, and compensation. He argued that national freedom cannot be celebrated in isolation from the pain carried by families whose lives were shattered during the demonstrations.
In a post shared on X on Friday, December 13, 2025, the Vocal Africa executive director said he deliberately chose not to attend official Jamhuri Day events. Instead, he spent the day with victims of the protests and families who lost their loved ones, saying the moment called for reflection rather than celebration.
Khalid said independence should be judged by how the state treats those who suffer harm at the hands of authority. For families still dealing with injuries, trauma, and loss linked to the Gen Z protests, he said the promise of freedom remains unfinished.
He explained that the gathering brought together victims and their families to discuss the next steps after a recent court ruling that directed the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights to take charge of justice and compensation for those affected.
“I spent my Jamhuri Day with the victims and family of the victims of Gen Z protests. They came together to discuss the way forward following the recent court ruling that KNCHR should take up the issue of justice and compensation for them,” he said.
The meeting also drew the participation of several human rights groups, a sign of growing cooperation among civil society actors seeking accountability. Khalid said the presence of these groups showed shared commitment to ensuring the issue does not fade from public focus.
“Among those present at the meeting included VOCAL Africa, Boniface Mwangi, Shakira Wanjira, KNCHR, and Amnesty Kenya, among others,” he wrote.
According to Khalid, discussions centered on concrete steps to move the process forward, rather than repeated statements. He said the affected families clearly stated their demands and expressed readiness to pursue justice through lawful engagement with institutions tasked with protecting rights.
He added that the meeting agreed to set up a smaller team that will engage directly with KNCHR in the coming days. The aim, he said, is to track progress, push for action, and ensure commitments made to victims are honored.
“As the way forward, a small team was agreed upon that will meet with KNCHR in the coming days to follow up on truth, justice and compensation,” he wrote.
Khalid’s comments come at a time when pressure is rising from activists and families who say national celebrations lose meaning when accountability for abuses linked to protests remains unresolved.
