By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, June 22, 2026 - The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has disclosed that only three of the 62 deaths recorded during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests have resulted in court cases, while 46 remain under active investigation.
In a statement issued on Monday, IPOA Vice Chairperson Ann Wanjiku Mwangi said the authority had registered 62 deaths linked to the nationwide demonstrations, commonly referred to as the Gen-Z protests.
According to the authority, three cases are currently before the courts, while another three have been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review. One case is undergoing internal legal review, four were closed following investigations, and five were closed on the advice of the ODPP.
The remaining 46 cases are at various stages of investigation.
Ms Mwangi attributed the delays in concluding investigations to the complexity of the cases, noting that IPOA often relies on external institutions such as the National Forensic Laboratory and the Government Chemist for forensic and ballistic analysis.
She added that some investigations face challenges due to insufficient evidence.
"The progression of a case to court depends on the sufficiency of evidence and the outcome of prosecutorial review by the ODPP. Consequently, not every completed investigation automatically results in prosecution," she said.
The authority noted that the three cases currently before court are those in which investigators were able to meet the evidentiary and prosecutorial thresholds required for prosecution.
IPOA also provided updates on investigations into deaths recorded during subsequent protests.
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The authority said it registered 27 deaths arising from the June 2025 Gen-Z Memorial demonstrations. Of these, one case has been taken to court while 26 remain under investigation.
A further 38 deaths were recorded during the July 2025 Saba Saba demonstrations. Two cases have since been closed internally, while 36 are still under active investigation.
In total, IPOA said it is handling 127 deaths linked to the three major public order management incidents.
The authority declined to provide details of the three cases currently under review by the ODPP, saying public disclosure at this stage could compromise investigations, expose witnesses and victims, and prejudice potential court proceedings.
To strengthen police accountability and improve case turnaround times, IPOA said it has adopted several measures, including fast-tracking investigations, implementing a backlog reduction strategy, recruiting additional investigators, and enhancing collaboration with key stakeholders.
The statement was issued in response to media inquiries regarding the status of investigations into deaths linked to the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.