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A child should be writing about dreams: Millicent Omanga reacts to student’s plea to end protest killings
12th August, 2026 10:50 AM
Former Senator Millicent Omanga has reacted to an emotional letter from a schoolgirl who asked her to help stop police from shooting innocent people during protests.
She shared the letter on her Instagram page on Tuesday, August 12, 2026, after receiving it during a visit to a school where she was distributing sanitary towels to schoolgirls.
The student opened up about losing her uncle during a protest and appealed to Omanga to help prevent more deaths.
“Dear Millicent Omanga. I pray you can do a favour for me. My uncle left us, and it was during a protest. Please tell the police to stop shooting innocent people,” the student wrote.
Omanga moved by student’s message
Omanga said the letter affected her because of the age of the person behind it, noting that children should not have to worry about violence and loss of life. She said the student should instead be thinking about her education, dreams and future.
“This broke my heart. A child should be writing about dreams, school and the future, not begging for protection from bullets,” Omanga said.
The message comes amid continued concerns over the conduct of police officers during protests in Kenya, with human rights groups documenting cases of deaths, injuries and arrests during recent demonstrations.
Call to stop protest violence
Omanga used the student’s letter to call on authorities to protect Kenyans during demonstrations and address concerns over police use of force.
She said the people affected by violence should not be reduced to figures in reports because every death affects a family.
“To those in power: these are not statistics. These are children, families and innocent lives. Stop the killings. Stop the violence. Protect the people you were entrusted to serve,” she said.
She further questioned how many more people would have to speak out before action is taken. “How many more innocent voices must cry out before you listen?” Omanga asked.
Kenya’s protests and police brutality
Kenya has experienced several major protests in recent years, with demonstrations often centred on issues including taxation, the cost of living, governance, and accountability.
The 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests were followed by reports of deaths and injuries, while demonstrations in 2025 also renewed concerns over police brutality.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has continued to document alleged human rights violations during protests, including deaths, arrests, disappearances and excessive use of force. The commission has called for accountability and urged security agencies to respect the rights of Kenyans to peaceful assembly, expression and life.
For Omanga, the schoolgirl’s letter offers a reminder of how political unrest can affect families beyond the streets. Her response placed the focus on children who are left to deal with the consequences when protests turn deadly, while calling on authorities to protect lives and prevent further violence.
