Families of victims of 2024 Gen Z protests holding portraits of their loved ones. Photo: The Standard.
Speaking during an interview on Wednesday morning, Former Police Spokesperson Charles Owino defended President William Ruto did not lie to the families affected by the Gen Z led protests in 202e about compensation.
According to Owino, the president is looking into a structure to compensate the families, which requires critical analysis, following the implications that could later come up that calls for accountability and transparency, thus need to remain objective in the process.
“I speak on behalf of the government, and we must remain objective. The president may pledge to compensate families of those injured during the June 25, 2024 protests, and while such a commitment requires careful analysis due to possible implications,” Owino remarked.
He further argued that the president did not lie, but he is accessing on how to compensate the families, which will mean all other victims of protests starting from 2007, 2013, 2017 demonstrations that left thousands dead, hundreds injured and property of unknown value destroyed.
“It is important to note we haven’t said that President William Ruto lied to the families. My sense is that he is genuinely considering how to support these individuals, especially in light of others who were also injured during events like 2007 post election violence,” Owino further argued.
In the marking of one year anniversary since their loved ones were brutally killed by police, families of the victims are full of rage, and have called on government to keep their promise of ensuring they receive justice, if not compensation. Ruto had promised a week after the protests in 2024 that all affected families will receive compensation from his administration.
Similar sentiments of compensation were echoed by ODM party leader Raila Odinga during Madaraka Day Celebrations in Homabay county. Odinga urged the president to compensate the families to complement earlier apologies issued by his allies during the National Prayer Breakfast.
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