Police in Nairobi on Monday arrested two activists and dispersed several others at Jeevanjee Gardens in Nairobi after they planned to march to State House alongside victims of police brutality.

Police forcefully arrested Julius Kamau and Collins Otieno in a dramatic show where the two unsuccessfully tried to resist arrest. Police later hauled them into a waiting van that headed to Central Police Station.

Police forcefully broke up crowds that had gathered in the gardens located in the Central Business District of Nairobi.

A section of police brutality victims who had arrived for the procession were forced to leave after police declared the grounds a no-go zone for anybody, including a section of Kenyans who usually rest in the lawns or discuss current affairs.

The activists protested the arrest, telling police officers that they had notified police in advance about their march.

“Police have decided to declare our meeting and march to State House illegal, yet we had notified them in prior about our intentions,” cried Kamau.

Police who were not ready to listen to the activists’ plea said they’ve been directed to disperse the activists and the victims of police brutality.

Activist Collins Otieno protested the dispersal and arrest, noting that they will not be cowed or intimidated by the State.

“What is the government afraid of if we’re protesting against injustice? This is an indication that President William Ruto is not ready to allow rights and freedoms as spelt out in the Constitution,” said Otieno.

The activists and the families had gathered to demand accountability, compensation and recognition of their loss during the anti-government protests.

According to a police notification, the procession will begin at 9:00 am from Jeevanjee Gardens in Nairobi, with participants carrying only flowers and the national flag in a peaceful appeal to the President.

The march came exactly 550 days after Rex Masai, who was shot on June 20, 2024, while on his way home, became the first of many youths to die during the protests.

Subsequent demonstrations, including the first anniversary commemorations on June 25, 2025, and the Saba Saba marches on July 7, 2025, saw more young people shot, some even in their homes.

Kelvin Simba, the brother of Mike Brian Kasaine, one of the victims, said the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) found that three out of every five extrajudicial killings involved shots fired from behind, suggesting the victims were fleeing and unarmed.

“As of December 18, 2025, 547 days after Rex Masai’s death, not a single officer has been held accountable,” Simba said.

The families have also criticised the government for delaying justice and compensation, despite a presidential proclamation on August 8, 2025, which established a framework for reparations for victims of police violence dating back to 2017.

“While the President has hosted numerous delegations and allocated resources elsewhere, we ask that he finally hear the cries of families facing a Christmas without the laughter of their loved ones. We also march in solidarity with the many survivors left paralysed or permanently disabled,” part of the notice reads.

The families emphasised that the march is a peaceful assembly in the spirit of Christmas.

“In the spirit of Christmas, we seek a peaceful audience with the President to discuss justice and support for these families,” adds the notice.

They have formally requested police protection, citing Article 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to assemble, demonstrate and petition public authorities peacefully and unarmed.

“Please note that this is a peaceful assembly; participants will carry only flowers and the national flag. We formally request a police escort to ensure the safety of all attendees and to maintain public order during the procession,” the notice reads.

The notice was addressed to the Nairobi Regional Police Commander and copied to the OCPD Kilimani Police Station, the Inspector General of the National Police Service, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

“This is not a protest but a plea for justice, and we trust that the police will not harass, assault, or arrest grieving parents and siblings seeking to meet the President,” Simba said.

The procession will be closely watched by authorities, and media houses have been invited to cover the event. Organisers say the march is meant to highlight the continued struggle for justice and to ensure the memories of the Gen Z Mashujaa are honoured.