Mashujaa Day 2024: Honoring Fallen Heroes of the Anti-Finance Bill Protests.

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, Kenyans took to social media to commemorate Mashujaa Day, focusing on those who lost their lives in the anti-Finance Bill protests that shook the nation in June. As official Mashujaa Day celebrations unfolded in Kwale County, many citizens shifted focus to honoring the fallen protesters, most of whom were killed by police during the nationwide demonstrations.

In tandem with the national festivities, human rights activists organized a gathering at Uhuru Park to remember the victims. However, the event was met with a heavy police presence, preventing Kenyans from accessing the grounds and leading to several arrests.

One of the most remembered victims was Rex Masai, who was shot dead at the onset of the Gen Z protests, a youth-led movement organized online. His tragic death sparked widespread outrage, with many condemning the government’s use of lethal force against unarmed demonstrators.

In addition to Rex Masai, Kenyans also remembered Denzel Omondi, whose body was found in a quarry, alongside Franklin Otieno and John Njuguna Ndung’u. According to human rights groups, 61 people were killed during the protests, and many others disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

One of the most brutal incidents involved Erickson Kyalo Mutisya, who was shot outside Parliament buildings when protesters stormed the premises and set sections of the Senate on fire.

As citizens mourned the fallen, President William Ruto, meanwhile, led the official Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kwale. In his speech, Ruto paid homage to Kenya’s historical freedom fighters, including Mekatilili wa Menza and Moraa Ng’iti, for their critical roles in the fight for independence.

He also reassured the public that his Affordable Housing project would benefit all Kenyans and addressed concerns over the fate of employees from the now-defunct NHIF, assuring them that they would be absorbed into the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). Additionally, Ruto reaffirmed his government’s commitment to providing subsidized fertilizer to farmers at a cost of Ksh.2,500 per bag.

As the nation celebrated its historical heroes, the memory of those who recently sacrificed their lives during the protests lingers, underscoring the ongoing fight for justice in Kenya.

Article By Suzy Nyongesa.