Holding those who allegedly gave the orders accountable is at the centre of former presidential candidate Reuben Kigame’s latest legal battle, with the politician saying justice over the deaths of protesters during the 2024 anti-government demonstrations should not stop with the officers accused of pulling the trigger.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Monday, Kigame said his petition seeks to apply the principle of chain of command, arguing that responsibility should also rest with senior officials he believes sanctioned the actions that led to the deaths.
“I was actually on the streets in Eldoret when the protests came down. I was on the streets in Mombasa, and I’ve been on the streets a few other times just trying to get the young people out when they were locked unfairly,” Kigame said.
He said he has filed several cases in court over different issues but singled out the one targeting senior security officials as the most important.
“The biggest one that I’m very proud of is the chain of command challenge… for literally killing over 100 citizens,” he said.
Kigame questioned why people protesting for reforms allegedly ended up losing their lives, saying he could not understand the justification for using deadly force against citizens demanding a better country.
“Why would you kill one, let alone over 100, just because they are asking for a better country? That’s what I’m unable to fathom,” he said.
He said the case before the court is aimed at securing permission to begin private prosecutions, arguing that those he believes were responsible for the alleged killings have never been held accountable.
“I’m in court for chain of command — that they issued the command to kill. The people that killed have never been brought to book,” Kigame said. “So I was seeking the court for permission to privately prosecute them.”
Kigame said he would not rule out taking the matter beyond Kenya if the local justice system failed to address the case.
“If we don’t get justice here, then we can always push it right to the ICC, because the right to life is protected not just by the Kenyan Constitution, it’s protected by the international United Nations Bill of Rights,” he said.
According to Kigame, accountability was one of the main issues raised by young people during the demonstrations, alongside concerns over the Finance Bill, governance and employment.
“The young people wanted accountability. They wanted the Finance Bill that was being forced down our throats to be thrown away. They wanted integrity. They wanted a leaner government. They want jobs,” he said.
He also dismissed claims that the protesters had intended to remove the government through unlawful means, saying such accusations did not reflect what happened on the ground.
“How can unarmed people with bottles of water and their iPhones be treasonous? What’s the definition of treason?” he posed.
Kigame filed the petition at the Milimani High Court on July 29, 2025, seeking leave to institute private prosecutions against senior security officials.
He argues that the Director of Public Prosecutions failed to act over the alleged extrajudicial killings, abductions and torture linked to the 2024 and 2025 anti-government protests.
He said the case is intended to pave the way for action before the International Criminal Court should local legal avenues fail to provide justice.