Gen Z protests: Hussein Khalid says compensation alone is not enough
By Cynthia Lodite, June 25, 2026Human rights advocate Hussein Khalid has maintained that compensation for victims of the Gen Z protests is not just enough, insisting that those responsible for the deaths and injuries suffered during the demonstrations must be held accountable.
Speaking outside Parliament Buildings on Thursday, June 25, 2026, Hussein, during a memorial event for those who lost their lives in the anti-government protests, Khalid said justice, rather than financial compensation, remains the primary demand of affected families and Kenyans at large.
“We are here at the parliament and we are saying we are not leaving here today until we lay these flowers and remember the Gen Z martyrs. And our message is very clear: compensation is not enough,” Khalid stated.
At the same time, the Human Rights activist maintained that accountability for police officers accused of using excessive force during the demonstrations is necessary to ensure justice for the victims.
In addition, Khalid demanded the arrest of the officers linked to the murders.
“We want justice! We want the killer cops who took those shots to be arrested. We want those killer cops to be removed from service. They continue to be a danger to Kenyans wherever they are,” Khalid added.
June 25 Protests
Worth noting, the Thursday, June 25, 2026, Protests mark two years since June 25, 2024, when Gen Z-led demonstrations against the controversial Finance Bill escalated. Protesters breached Parliament grounds in one of the boldest acts of civic action in recent Kenyan history.
The clashes that followed left dozens dead, mostly young people shot.
Kalonzo’s proposal
Meanwhile, on the other hand, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has vowed that June 25 will be formally recognised as a public holiday in honour of young Kenyans who lost their lives during the historic Gen Z protests of 2024.
Speaking outside Parliament Buildings on Thursday, June 25, 2026, during a memorial ceremony marking the first anniversary of the June 25 demonstrations, Kalonzo said the day had become a defining moment in Kenya’s democratic journey and deserved national recognition.
“We are witnessing the fact that this is the most successful public holiday because of the police barricading, so people could not come to places of work, and so on our part, we commit that when we take power next year, God willing, we shall formalise this day to be a proper public holiday,” Kalonzo said.