The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has commended President William Ruto for apologizing to Gen Zs and urged the government to compensate victims of  the 2023 and 2024 anti-government protests.

Speaking during Madaraka Day celebrations at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County on Sunday June 1, 2025, Raila urged President Ruto’s administration to offer justice to families affected by the protests.

“I saw that during the prayer breakfast recently, there were apologies being made, by the Speaker and President Ruto, which is wonderful as a first step to reconciliation,” said Raila.

“But there is the issue of people who are injured, the people who died during that time. I want to say that we should do compensation, so that we can have a closure to this chapter of our national history,” he added. 

According to Raila, healing cannot occur without acknowledgement of past wrongs, despite President Ruto’s public apology.

“I want to say today that we should do compensation to families of those who died and those who were injured. We want Kenyans to live in peace and unity,” said Raila.

The 2023 and 2024 anti-government protests were sparked by the rising cost of living, increased taxation, and demands for electoral justice. The 2023 protests were led by Raila and other opposition leaders over the increasing high cost of living in the country while the 2024 protests were led by youth, commonly referred to as Gen Z, who were protesting against the 2024 Finance Bill.

Meanwhile, the demonstrations were met with a brutal police response, which human rights groups say involved arbitrary arrests, abductions, and the use of excessive force.

Raila emphasised that the protesters were not criminals but ordinary citizens pushing for reforms in the country.

“Two years ago, we were on the streets, and a year ago, the Gen Zs were also on the streets,” he said.