Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga has issued fresh demands for the compensation of families who lost their loved ones during the anti-government protests last year.
Speaking during the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations in Homabay, Odinga urged President William Ruto to ensure timely compensation of the victims.
Odinga, who was responding to the recent apologies offered by President Ruto, noted that while it was a good gesture from the Head of State to offer his apologies, that was just a step on the long journey to the full reconciliation process.
The veteran opposition leader who recently joined forces with Ruto's camp following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ODM and UDA, in his 6-minute speech, stated that the move will help the country mark an important chapter from the protests witnessed last year.
''During the prayer breakfast, there were apologies from you and the Speaker. But then there are issues of people who were injured should be compensated. This will help their families so that we can close the chapter. We want Kenyans to live in peace," Odinga stated.
The developments follow President Ruto’s remarks during the National Prayer Breakfast in Nairobi last Wednesday, where he offered an apology on behalf of Kenyans to both Tanzania and Gen Z. His gesture came in response to a call by American preacher Rickey Allen Bolden, who urged political leaders to embrace reconciliation.
At the same time, Odinga, an enemy turned ally of the president, appealed to Ruto not to allow the return of the provincial government system of administration, insisting that it would be a backslide on the gains made on devolution.
Further, Odinga appealed to Parliament to address the revenue allocation standoff between the national government and the county governments to protect devolution.
Meanwhile, Odinga’s persistent demands for the compensation of Gen Z protesters and Azimio supporters have been met with silence from the president, who, once again during Madaraka Day celebrations, offered no response, continuing a pattern seen in previous public addresses.
In 2023, the country witnessed a wave of nationwide demonstrations led by Odinga under the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition. The protests primarily stemmed from disputes over the 2022 presidential election, with the rising cost of living coming as a secondary demand.
The protests, which lasted from March to August 2023, had a lasting negative impact on Kenya's economy and individual lives, with reports indicating that dozens lost their lives during the period.
Less than a year later, thousands of youth took to the streets in major cities and towns across Kenya to protest the tax proposals in the 2024 Finance Bill.
The demonstrations were met with a heavy police response, resulting in violent clashes marked by brutality and excessive force, with tens of young people losing their lives.
