Mombasa's fallen Gen-Z in the 2024 Finance Bill

**Emmanuel Giggs Tata; First casualty of Gen Z protests in Mombasa.** [Courtesy]

Mr Paul Tata is still struggling with unanswered questions and coming to terms with the death of his firstborn during the June 25, 2024, Gen Z protests in Mombasa.

He is devastated but candidly recalls the events of that eventful afternoon when he received a phone call to inform him that his 20-year-old son Emmanuel Tata had died.

Mzee Tata is among the parents of the three young men killed by the police during the protests against the 2024-2025 Finance Bill. All their questions start with what if.

"What if I had prevailed upon him not to go to town? My son was never part of the protesting youths. He was doing errands in town. He inhaled tear gas smoke, which led to his death. Police watched as he struggled to breathe his last breath,'' he said.

Emmanuel was standing pensively waiting for a matatu at the Mwembe Tayari bus terminal when the police hurled a teargas canister that killed him.

Eyewitness accounts would state that he inhaled the dangerous gas and passed on at a local hospital as medics tried to resuscitate him.

'Each passing day is a stark reminder of how life can be inside a grieving family that has not gotten answers as to why my only son died while waiting for transport home after a routine errand in Mombasa's Central Business District," stated Tata in an interview.

Emmanuel was a student at the Meru National Polytechnic, pursuing a course in laboratory technology, and had not reported back to school due to a fee balance.

In an interview, his father, Tata, recounted how his son was killed during the protests that left a trail of deaths and destruction in the port city of Mombasa.

Mr Tata recalls that on that fateful day, someone called him at around 4 pm to inform him that Emmanuel had collapsed and had been taken to Al Farouq Hospital.

Emmanuel was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. “The sun has not risen on my home since then. My life lost meaning. I wonder why I voted for a government that would later kill my son,” he says.

Emmanuel was Mzee Tata’s firstborn child and was God-fearing and was a staunch Christian who never got into trouble with anyone.

He said his church has been the pillar that has supported him and his young family during this past year, which he described as the most trying time of his life.

''My church has stood by me and my family all through. It is never easy, considering that we laid our hopes in him, hoping that upon completion of his studies, he would get a job and help out," stated the heartbroken father.

Like other parents who lost their loved ones during the protests, Mzee Tata is demanding justice.

“I will only rest when we get justice for my son. The government has remained mum all through. Let them own up and even offer compensation," he added.

Josh Ombati and Dennis Otieno were also shot from behind by police. Ombati, a father of two from Likoni, Mombasa County, was shot in the back as he was out fending for his family.

According to Ombati’s wife, he was a rights defender and a patriot to his country that eventually betrayed him.

Ombati lived with his wife, two children, and parents and worked as a casual labourer in town.

Ombati’s family said that they are yet to receive any help despite promises from the government and local politicians to employ his wife.

Similarly, 26-year-old Dennis Otieno was shot three times during the 2024 protest as he left work.

Otieno’s family only learnt of his death through social media after 15 days of searching.

His father said that Otieno came from Kitale in search of employment in Mombasa.

The mother said that his son was killed while coming home from work, and no justice has been served for his son.