Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has welcomed President William Ruto’s public apology to Kenyans—particularly the Gen Z youth—over the violence witnessed during the 2023 and 2024 anti-government protests.
Speaking during the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay, Odinga called the gesture “a commendable first step” but emphasized the need for action beyond words.
“We have had several challenges. We have had a lot of issues. Two years ago, we were on the streets. And even last year, Gen Z were on the streets,” Odinga said.
“Your Excellency, during the prayer breakfast this week, there were apologies that were made: the Speaker and yourself, which is wonderful as the first step to reconciliation.”
The former premier, however, pressed the government to take the next logical step by offering compensation to families of those who were killed or injured during the protests, which were marked by deadly police crackdowns in parts of the country.
“There is the issue of people who were injured and others who died during that time,” Raila stated. “They deserve justice.”
His remarks come days after President Ruto, during the National Prayer Breakfast at Safari Park Hotel, made a rare conciliatory statement directed at Kenya’s youth. “To our children, if there has been any misstep, we apologize,” said the President.
Odinga’s call for reparative justice marks a shift toward healing and national dialogue, with both leaders seemingly aligning on the need to address past state excesses and rebuild public trust—particularly among disillusioned youth.
The 2025 Madaraka Day celebrations, themed “Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs,” were widely seen as a moment of reflection and potential reset for the nation’s leadership, as Kenya grapples with a new generation demanding accountability and reform.
