Families and survivors of last year’s Gen Z–led demonstrations have set tough conditions for the task force formed by President William Ruto to develop a compensation plan, insisting that accountability must come before money.

Speaking in Nairobi, they said they would only accept any payout if those responsible for killings and injuries during the protests are prosecuted.

Gillian Munyao, mother of Rex Masai who was shot dead in the anti-Finance Bill demonstrations of 2024, stressed that compensation alone cannot address their pain.

“For us, justice is very clear, it’s not an abstract idea. The State must publicly and unequivocally declare that those who were killed were not terrorists or criminals. They were patriots—young Kenyans who went to the streets not with guns or grenades but with flags, placards and chants of freedom,” she said.

She added: “It hurts to see the person who killed my son walking free, still working. Even with clear evidence, he denies it. I demand justice because there is enough proof of what happened. We will only accept compensation if the culprit is jailed.”

Other victims echoed the same demand, saying their lives had been torn apart and delays by the task force had worsened their suffering.

Tobias Thuo, who was shot during the protests, said survivors cannot continue waiting. “If football players are being given money and houses, why not young people who stood up for their rights? Compensation must include life and health insurance because most of us have been left with nothing,” he said.

Rodgers Mwabe warned against politicians meddling in the process. “If the President wants to compensate us, let him call us to State House and give us what he has—just like he gave Harambee Stars players. Let no MCAs or elected leaders interfere,” he said.

For Jacinta Onyango, whose 12-year-old son Kennedy was killed in the protests, promises of government support remain unfulfilled despite a personal call from the President.

“He called me before I buried my son and assured me of support, but nothing has happened since. My son had dreams of lifting our family out of poverty. Now I have two sick children and no help. No amount of compensation will replace him,” she said.

Others described similar struggles. Samuel Kinyanjui, who lost his job after being shot, said life has been unbearable. “We are asking the President to do something for us as we wait for the task force. We need immediate support, maybe through credit facilities or a guarantor to pay our bills. The task force should also help victims regain jobs so we can rebuild our lives,” he said.

The families insisted that any compensation plan must prioritise justice, accountability, and direct engagement with victims rather than intermediaries or political actors.