Brother of Gen Z killed in Anti-Government Protests Sues Kenya Police.

The sibling of a Gen Z individual killed amid protests against the government is taking legal action against the enforcement officers involved.

During a series of protests against the government aimed at opposing the controversial Finance Bill 2024, clashes between anti-riot police and protesters became violently escalated. A Kenyan man who lost his brother during these demonstrations is holding the police accountable for his brother’s death through legal means, his attorney announced on Wednesday.

David Chege tragically lost his life near the parliamentary buildings on June 25, marking one of the most tragic days amidst the protests that shook the nation against President William Ruto’s leadership, stirring unrest across Kenya for an extended period.

The onset of protests in mid-June led to at least 60 fatalities, as reported by entities including the state-supported rights commission KNCHR and Amnesty Kenya.

Accusations have been directed towards the police for their harsh measures against demonstrators, with instances of live ammunition being used.

As lawyer Ochiel Dudley said, the legal action is scheduled for a hearing at the Nairobi High Court on October 16.

The lawsuit challenges the legality of David Chege’s death caused by police, criticizing the sluggish progress in the subsequent investigation.

It contends that the police violated Chege’s right to life, failing to apprehend or prosecute those responsible. Figures of high rank within the police force, the police oversight body, and the prosecution form the defendant’s list.

Brian Kinyanjui, Chege’sChege’s brother, alongside the Independent Medico-Legal Unit, is spearheading the suit.

Kinyanjui remarked in a sworn statement: “There was no justification for my brother’s death by the police.” He remembered his brother as a “peaceful and unarmed” freelance IT professional.

The legal petition demands that the perpetrators within the police force face punishment and prosecution while urging the completion of the investigation and the exacting of charges against the culprits.

Moreover, it seeks an official apology from the attorney general and demands unspecified financial compensation.

Originally, the protests were primarily driven by the younger generation opposing the proposed tax increases, but they swiftly became widespread discontent with President Ruto’s government.

The Kenyan president has tried to quell the unrest by retracting the tax proposals, changing his government, and vowing to reduce government expenditures perceived as excessive. Nonetheless, preparations for more protests are underway.