A year after losing her teenage son in the deadly 2024 protests, Gillian Munyau—known to Kenyans as “Mama Rex”—returned to the streets of Nairobi to honour his memory. Her tearful tribute during the June 25 anniversary protests served as a heartbreaking reminder of the human cost behind Kenya’s push for change.
Highlights
- Mama Rex emotionally addressed protesters on Parliament Road.
- Her son Rex was shot dead during the June 25, 2024 Finance Bill protests.
- She rejected apologies or compensation, calling instead for full justice.
- Protesters stood in silence as she described her pain and loss.
- Her message amplified calls for investigations into protest-related killings.
Main Story
Surrounded by candles, placards, and tearful youth, Mama Rex stood near the razor-wire fencing Parliament. Holding a photograph of her son, she told the crowd: “You left me no last words, no goodbye. Just silence, and a hole in my life.”
Rex, a 19-year-old student, was among the first victims of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests. He died from a gunshot wound during the storming of Parliament—an act that marked one of the darkest days in recent Kenyan history.
Now, one year later, Gillian Munyau made it clear: no official apology or compensation can replace her son. “Money cannot hold me at night. It cannot say ‘Mum, I made it home,’” she told the crowd, some of whom wept alongside her.
Her statement was a direct message to government leaders, human rights commissions, and security agencies: admit the truth, and hold those responsible accountable.
Mama Rex’s presence deeply moved the protest. Her speech shifted the mood—chants fell into silence, fists softened into folded hands, and marchers listened closely. Many held back tears as she encouraged youth to stay courageous and united.
She also urged parents across Kenya to support their children’s right to speak up and not to let fear silence future generations.
Human rights groups continue to call for a public inquiry into the deaths of more than 60 protesters killed last year. While a few arrests have been made—especially in the case of blogger Albert Ojwang—families like Mama Rex’s say justice has been too slow and accountability still lacking.
Her son may be gone, but Mama Rex’s message lives on: “This fight is no longer just yours. It’s mine too.”
