Gen-Z Revolt, Ongata Rongai family that lost son, one year later

It's been one year now since Jacinta Anyango's son Kennedy Onyango was fatally shot during the Gen-Z protest in Ongata Rongai town in June 2024.

Today, Anyango is still overwhelmed by the loss of a son, who was only 12. His innocence was to step out of their house, unaware that police officers were out and end his life.

The events of the day are still fresh in Anyango's mind who says every time it crosses her mind; she breaks down for long hours.

“I was at home with him on the fateful day doing house chores until around 3 pm. That was on June 27, 2024, when Kennedy told me he was going to pick a book from one of his friends who is a desk mate within the neighbourhood,” she recalls.

"That time he had completed the task but he insisted on going for the book while I was preparing some meals around since he had not eaten anything," the mother added

Anyango says minutes after the boy had left, their father called asking her not to allow the children to go out since there were demonstrations within Ongata-Rongai and police officers were opening fire on the protestors but the boy was already out of sight.

She recalls that when she stepped out she bumped into one of Kennedy's teachers who had watched on social media that a boy had been shot by police in the neighbourhood in a widely circulated video on TikTok.

“My heart skipped a beat when I heard about the shooting and why Kennedy’s teacher arrived to ask me about his whereabouts,” she added.

Her fears were shortly confirmed when one of the neighbours who had watched the clip of the shooting gave a description that matched those of Anyango's son.

"In the video, I saw him being ferried on a motorbike by good samaritans towards Ongata- Rongai hospital and when I followed, I found him in the morgue, his body was already cold," she said

The mother says from the wounds on Kennedy's shoulder and chest area, it appeared that the boy was shot at point blank and not once but up to eight times.

"He was soaked in blood because, on the left shoulder, there was a huge hole exposing the inner parts, I think he was shot from behind and the bullets exited from the front, several times," Anyango added.

On June 30, 2024, during a live interview with media houses, President Ruto dismissed that Kennedy was killed by a police officer adding that he would one day personally explain to Anyango what transpired.

The Head of State explained that on the material day, police officers were overpowered by protestors and at one point a civilian snatched a gun from a police officer and used it against the police.

“One of the police officers had to shoot the fellow who had hijacked a gun from a policeman so as not to endanger the lives of more citizens. I cannot confirm to you if the man is the one who shot the child,” President Ruto explained during the interview.

“But investigations are going on and we will get to the bottom of it, I’m telling the mother of the young person that I as the President finally will give her an explanation of what happened and make sure that her child can be accounted for,” he added.

Just before Kennedy was buried, Anyango recalls watching on television the President talking about her son's case with a promise of reaching out to the family so that justice would be served.

Days later, Anyango says she received a call from State House staff who told her the President was on line and would like to talk to her over the matter.

"That was on July 4, 2024, before the burial of Kennedy, some neighbours were in the house and I decided to put my phone on loudspeaker so that we could all hear the President," she stated

Adding that "He apologised and promised to call me so that we can talk and ensure that Kennedy gets justice because he was a child,"

Days and months have since passed but Anyango says no one has ever called her despite a promise that kept their hopes alive that justice will be served.

"Kennedy was our only hope, he was the last born and reliable one because my other two children are battling sickle cell disease and can't do much," Anyango, who survives on casual jobs said.

"He used to assist us since he was active. I have never recovered since then and I have been trying to reach out to some leaders for assistance to get justice but it has been in vain," she added.

Kennedy's father Michael Ouma described his son as a humble boy who never had any issues with other children in school or the neighbourhood.

"For the time he was alive no one came to us complaining of anything about him, I can say he was a humble child," said Ouma

Adding, "Even after President Ruto denied during a live interview that Kennedy was not dead, he later reached out to us and promised that he would ensure that justice will be served because he is also a parent like us but we are still waiting for that,"

Ouma added their wish is not only for the killers of Kennedy to be identified and prosecuted but all those who lost their loved ones during the GenZ protests.

"What has been troubling us is that the person who shot our son has never been identified, our is about justice and compensation for all," added Ouma