Juliani addresses police brutality and extrajudicial killings in new song
Kenyan artiste Julius Owino, alias Juliani, has released a new track tackling the ongoing issues of police brutality and extrajudicial killings in Kenya.
Released on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the track dubbed Moyo Wangu is a tribute to grieving parents whose children have been killed or gone missing, particularly during the Gen Z-led protests.
Juliani used the song to express their pain, frustration, and unanswered cries for justice in a country where many families are still waiting for closure.
On Wednesday, May 21, Juliani shared the message behind the song on his Instagram page, describing it as a social commentary.
“‘Moyo Wangu’ is a powerful song that serves as a social commentary, shedding light on the painful reality of a wounded heart in search of justice. It expresses the collective cry of parents who have tragically lost their children to police brutality and extrajudicial killings,” Juliani stated.
Adding
“Despite their immense grief, these parents continue to wait for the justice they deserve, and the song captures their ongoing struggle and demand for accountability. It is a poignant reminder of the urgent need to address these injustices.”
Moyo Wangu
In the chorus, Juliani repeats a powerful line that sums up the anguish felt by families when their kin are killed. These lyrics reflect a mother’s deep sorrow and the long wait for justice that may never come.
“Ajuaye ni mama uchungu wake mwana, moyo moyo wangu haki utapata lini, jeraha litapona lini.”
One of the verses paints a heartbreaking picture of how families find out about their loved ones’ deaths, often through the news or unanswered phone calls. Juliani describes how a young man who went out to protest never returned home.
This verse reflects the brutal reality that many young Kenyans face, being killed for standing up for their rights, and leaving behind devastated families.
“Simu take iko mteja, by this time yeye huwa keja napata missed calls kibao kwani leo ni how, kenye news inasema, bibi akipoteza bwana, mtoto akipoteza mzazi, mama akipoteza mwana mnamwita nani Ilikuwa tu jana, iyo si future alipanga, kukula chele parliament si makosa inadeserve bullet, halupeana life for the struggle alipoteza ujana kwa uzalendo, kubeba flag na water bottle, mnawasha candle kurudi kwa wapendao, nguvu nitapata wapi kubeba casket ya mwanao,” he rapped highlighting the youth who were killed on the grounds of parliament during the Gen Z protests in June 25, 2024.
It comes less than a year after the tragic Gen Z protests on June 25, 2024, where young people were shot and killed outside Parliament while demonstrating against corruption, unemployment, and poor governance. Others were arrested or disappeared.
