Activist and human rights defender Boniface Mwangi has called on Kenyans to attend the burials of protesters shot during the anti-Finance Bill 2024.

Mwangi said the protesters should be buried in caskets drapped in the Kenyan flag because they died fighting for justice.

He attended Saturday's burial of one of the protesters, Andrew Mwawasi, at Lang'ata cemetery, Nairobi.

Another protester, Chris Muriithi Gitonga from Nanyuki, was also buried on Saturday although his casket was not draped in the Kenyan flag.

"Andrew Kelvin Mwawasi has been laid to rest. For those who can, please make an effort to attend the funerals of those the state murdered. Bury them with the Kenyan flag, they died for us," Mwangi said.

Mwangi was a key organiser of the Occupy Parliament protests on the twin Tuesdays of June 18 and 25.

Kenyans took to the streets across the country to peacefully protest against the Finance Bill 2024.

President William Ruto declined to sign the Finance Bill 2024 to law and returned it to Parliament.

However, Kenyans kept on with the protests seemingly dissatisfied with the governance in the country.

The protests turned violent after they were allegedly infiltrated by goons leading to violence, loss of lives and destruction of property. 

Shops, supermarkets, restaurants and business stalls bore the brunt of the criminal acts perpetrated by marauding gangs of individuals disguised as demonstrators.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission said on Thursday it had confirmed the deaths of 41 people and over 350 injuries mostly attributed to police action.

President Ruto said the government will support families who lost their loved ones and those who were injured.

He put the death toll at 25.

In his address to the nation Friday afternoon, Ruto conveyed condolences to the bereaved families of the dead protesters.

"To the many others who lost their lives, I sent my condolences to the family," he said. 

"The government will support all those who have lost their lives, and all those who have been injured." 

As of Thursday, Kenyans had donated Sh29.9 million towards the medical expenses of protesters who were injured during the mass demonstrations against the Finance Bill, 2024.

Hanifa Farsafi, the rights activist coordinating the fundraiser issued an update on how the Sh29.9 million funds were being utilised.

She said donations to bereaved families would be doubled to Sh300,000.

"The families of those who are paralysed and amputees will get Sh400,000, we will send something to Law Society of Kenya kitty funds since they have helped people pro bono,” she said on X.

She said medics who have been offering free medical services to injured protesters will also be considered.

“Sorry I forgot and yes we will have a Spence for this it is not something I’m deciding alone we can all talk and agree,” Hanifa said.

Nearly 40,000 people had made donations on M-Changa by Thursday afternoon, July 4.