Police on Monday dispersed a group of protesters marching towards State House after lobbing teargas at the Nyerere Road–Mamlaka Road junction, halting a planned procession by families of youths killed during the 2024–2025 anti-government protests.
The demonstration, organised by parents and relatives of victims of alleged police brutality, began early in the morning at Jeevanjee Gardens. The families were seeking an audience with President William Ruto to demand justice, accountability, and compensation for deaths that occurred during nationwide protests.
Anti-riot police were deployed at Jeevanjee Gardens as the gathering commenced. As the procession advanced towards Procession Way, officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) mounted a roadblock at the Nyerere–Mamlaka Road junction. When protesters attempted to proceed, police responded with additional reinforcements and teargas, forcing the group to scatter.
The families said the march was meant to be peaceful and symbolic, noting that participants carried flowers and the national flag as a sign of mourning rather than confrontation.
According to the organisers, as of December 18, 2025, it has been 547 days since the death of Rex Masai, one of the victims, yet no police officer has been held accountable for the killings linked to the protests.
They further accused the government of delaying justice and compensation, despite a presidential proclamation issued on August 8, 2025, which established a framework for reparations to victims of police violence dating back to 2017.
In a formal notice submitted to the police ahead of the march, the families invoked Article 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to assemble, demonstrate, and petition public authorities peacefully and unarmed. They had also requested a police escort to ensure safety and maintain public order during the procession.
“Please note that this is a peaceful assembly; participants will carry only flowers and the national flag. We formally request a police escort to ensure the safety of all attendees and to maintain public order during the procession,” the notice read.
“This is not a protest but a plea for justice, and we trust that the police will not harass, assault, or arrest grieving parents and siblings seeking to meet the President.”
By midday, the area around the junction remained under heavy police presence, with no immediate statement from authorities on whether dialogue with the families would be facilitated.
