Raila Demands Compensation for Victims of 2024 Finance Bill Protests During Madaraka Day Speech
ODM leader Raila Odinga has renewed calls for compensation to the families of victims who lost their lives during the anti-government protests sparked by the 2024 Finance Bill.
Speaking during the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations at Raila Odinga Stadium in Homabay, the veteran opposition figure urged President William Ruto to ensure that justice is served to the affected families through timely reparations.
Odinga, who recently joined forces with President Ruto following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ODM and UDA, acknowledged the recent public apologies offered by the president during the National Prayer Breakfast. However, he stated that apologies alone were insufficient.
“During the prayer breakfast, there were apologies from you and the Speaker. But then there are issues of people who were injured. They should be compensated. This will help their families so that we can close the chapter. We want Kenyans to live in peace,” Odinga said during his six-minute address.
President Ruto had earlier apologized to Tanzania and Kenya’s Gen Z during the National Prayer Breakfast held in Nairobi, responding to a call for national healing by American preacher Rickey Allen Bolden. But notably, the Head of State made no reference to Odinga’s compensation demands during his Madaraka Day speech.
Odinga also cautioned against proposals to revive the provincial administration system, warning that it would undermine devolution. He called on Parliament to resolve the ongoing standoff on revenue allocation between the national and county governments.
The calls for compensation stem from two waves of nationwide protests that shook the country in recent years. The first, in 2023, was led by Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya coalition, protesting the disputed 2022 presidential election and the high cost of living. The second erupted in 2024, led by Gen Z youth opposing the Finance Bill’s proposed tax measures.
Both protests were marred by police brutality, with numerous deaths reported. Rights groups and international observers have condemned the excessive use of force, and Odinga has since become the loudest voice demanding justice for the victims.
Despite the new political alignment between Odinga and Ruto, the president has yet to respond to repeated calls for compensation—a silence that is beginning to raise questions about the sincerity of the reconciliation effort.
As Kenya marks 62 years of self-rule, the pain of recent tragedies remains fresh for many families. Whether the government will heed Odinga’s call for justice and compensation remains to be seen.
In other news:Why Kenyans Celebrate Madaraka Day: Honouring Struggles, Freedom, and the Spirit of Self-Rule
Raila Demands Compensation for Victims of 2024 Finance Bill Protests During Madaraka Day Speech