Two years after widespread protests against tax hikes and corruption shook Kenya, families of those killed by police during the demonstrations are criticizing the government’s recently announced compensation package as inadequate. President William Ruto pledged 2 billion shillings ($15.5 million) to 1,100 individuals affected by protests between 2017 and 2025, with initial payouts beginning this week. However, victims’ families view the compensation as a tactic to silence dissent rather than genuine accountability for the deaths of over 127 people, according to official figures, and potentially more according to rights groups. Many argue that financial compensation without identifying and prosecuting responsible officers fails to deliver justice. The protests, largely led by Gen Z, represented a significant moment of cross-ethnic unity demanding government accountability. Families like that of Rex Masai, one of the first killed in 2024, express frustration that the payouts feel like “peanuts” and a way for the government to avoid addressing the root causes of the violence. Ongoing legal cases seek to hold those responsible accountable, but progress remains slow.