Recent youth-led protests in Kenya have tragically resulted in the deaths of several individuals, sparking widespread condemnation and a national outcry against alleged police brutality and government actions. Among the casualties, young Elijah Muthoka Mwongeli was fatally shot during the Gen Z protests on June 25, 2025, dying the following day. His untimely death left his family, friends, and schoolmates from Naaro High School in deep sorrow, leading to an emotional burial ceremony in his home village in Machakos county on Thursday, July 10. The casket, draped in the Kenyan flag, symbolized the gravity of his loss and the collective grief.

The burial was attended by a significant number of mourners, including human rights activist Boniface Mwangi, who expressed his solidarity with the grieving family. Mwangi, critical of President William Samoei Ruto's government, delivered a powerful speech condemning the deaths of innocent Kenyans during the protests. Social media users reacted with a mix of grief and scrutiny, with some questioning the circumstances of deaths and others expressing heartfelt condolences and calls for justice and divine retribution against those responsible for the killings.

In a separate, equally distressing incident, Dennis Kimweli, a mechanic from Kajiado county, also died after being shot during the protests. He succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after surgery to remove a lodged bullet. Kimweli was reportedly shot by a stray bullet while attempting to close his garage gate to keep protesters out of the premises, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence.

The unrest has also led to political repercussions and legal battles. Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji, journalist James Mbochi, and boda boda rider Stanley Mbuthi were arrested in connection with the July 7 Saba Saba protests. Accused of inciting public violence and facing terrorism-related charges, including alleged recruitment and funding of violent groups, they were released on a cash bail of Sh300,000 each after the court rejected the Directorate of Criminal Investigations' (DCI) application for extended detention. Similarly, leaders of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), Wanjiku Thiga, Peter Wanjiru, and an unnamed third official, are awaiting a bail ruling concerning their alleged involvement in organizing and financing protest activities.

Adding to the wave of condemnation, political commentator Tony Gachoka, during a press briefing in Nairobi, vehemently denounced President William Ruto’s alleged “shoot to kill” order to police officers. Gachoka described the directive as an unconstitutional, immoral, and direct order to murder, emphasizing that there is no constitutional provision permitting such an action. He argued that whether the order was to “shoot to kill” or “shoot to maim,” the intention to inflict harm and suppress dissent constituted state violence, not law enforcement. Gachoka underscored the sanctity of human life and condemned leaders who justify ending it under the guise of restoring order, labeling such actions as unpresidential and barbaric.

KANU Nairobi Branch Chairperson Titus Otieno echoed Gachoka’s sentiments, expressing dismay at the President’s differentiation between shooting the head and the leg, asserting that every part of the human body matters. Otieno also criticized Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration for poor service delivery in Nairobi, endorsing Gachoka for the 2027 gubernatorial race, promising to restore dignity and service to the capital. Jane Akinyi, a Nairobi resident, made an emotional appeal, referencing the death of a 12-year-old girl shot in her house, questioning who would be next and urging President Ruto to consider his own children.

Gachoka further declared his official endorsement by KANU Nairobi for the 2027 gubernatorial race, pledging people-centered leadership. He warned against the return of authoritarianism, drawing parallels to historical African dictators who met tragic ends, and asserted that no one, including President Ruto, is above the law. He also criticized UDA party leaders, including Nelson Koech and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, for allegedly supporting the ‘shoot to kill’ narrative, questioning the justification for advocating extrajudicial killings in a democracy. Gachoka raised concerns about the independence of the Judiciary and the IEBC, alleging institutional collapse orchestrated by the current administration to cling to power, and stressed that accountability, not opposition, was the core issue in Kenya's current political climate.