The sudden rush by the political establishment to label Gen Z protest victims as heroes rings hollow in the absence of accountability.

In a pointed critique of the government’s newfound reverence for the youth who died protesting governance failures, human rights defenders are demanding more than flowery rhetoric. The narrative shifting from "criminals" to "heroes" is not an act of benevolence but a concession forced by the undeniable truth of their sacrifice. Yet, as monuments are proposed and speeches read, the families of the fallen are still waiting for the one thing that matters: justice.

The Hypocrisy of Recognition

The recent acknowledgment of the Gen Z protesters as patriots who "watered the tree of democracy" marks a significant departure from the initial state narrative, which sought to vilify them. However, this pivot raises uncomfortable questions about the sincerity of the state. It is a paradox to eulogise the dead while protecting those who pulled the trigger. The recognition of these young victims is a necessary step, but it cannot be the final destination.

For weeks, the streets of Nairobi and other major towns were theatres of courage, where young unarmed Kenyans faced down teargas and live bullets. They demanded accountability, transparency, and a future that worked for everyone, not just the elite. Their payment was death, injury, and abduction. Now, the very system they protested against seeks to co-opt their memory without addressing the systemic rot that drove them to the streets in the first place.

• The Unfinished Business: True honour for these martyrs requires the prosecution of the commanders who issued the kill orders and the officers who executed them. Anything less is a sanitisation of history.
• A Debt to the Future: The blood spilled during the protests has arguably expanded the democratic space in Kenya more than any event in the last decade. The reforms currently being discussed trace their lineage directly to the courage of these young citizens.

A Warning to the Political Class

The prevailing sentiment among civil society is that the government must not be allowed to build the "new Kenya" on the forgotten graves of its children. The attempt to move on without addressing the atrocities committed is a dangerous gamble. It assumes that the anger has dissipated, when in reality, it has only transformed into a cold, watchful resolve. The youth have proven they are not apathetic; they are merely regrouping.

Justice for the dead, the maimed, and the arbitrarily detained is the only currency that will settle this debt. Until independent investigations are concluded and perpetrators are behind bars, the title of "hero" remains a convenient distraction. The victims did not die for a title; they died for a better country. Denying them justice while giving them accolades is the ultimate insult to their memory.

As the nation reflects on this tumultuous chapter, the writing on the wall is clear. The silence of the grave is loud, and the spirit of the Gen Z movement continues to demand an answer to the question: who killed our children?