A recent online post has sparked discussions across Kenya about naming roads after victims of police killings. The idea, shared in a joking tone, suggested replacing names like Uhuru Highway with Rex Maasai Highway and Thika Road with Denzel Super Highway.
Even though the post was lighthearted, it raised a serious topic how to remember young Kenyans who died because of state violence. People are using this suggestion as a way to bring attention to the growing problem of police brutality in the country.
Behind the proposed names are real people whose deaths shocked the nation. Rex Maasai was a young protester killed in June 2024 during anti-tax demonstrations.
Denzel Omondi, a university student, went missing after a protest and was later found dead in a swamp, with suspicions pointing at state agents.
Albert Ojwang was a teacher and blogger who died in police custody under suspicious circumstances. Bonface Kariuki was a hawker shot in broad daylight during demonstrations, and a police officer has since been charged.
Then there’s Bridgit Njoki, a 12-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet inside her home while protests went on outside.
These deaths are part of a disturbing pattern. More than 60 people died during protests in 2024 alone. Human rights groups like Amnesty International and Missing Voices have repeatedly pointed to the excessive force used by police, especially against young people.
Even though President William Ruto promised to end extrajudicial killings, many believe little has changed. Investigations move slowly, and families are left without answers or justice.
For many Kenyans, renaming roads is not just about satire. It’s a form of protest and remembrance. Roads like Uhuru Highway or Kenyatta Avenue carry political weight. Changing those names to ones like Rex Maasai Highway or Bonface Kariuki Avenue is a way of rewriting history to include the voices of victims.
Whether or not it actually happens, the proposal shows that Kenyans are finding new ways to demand accountability and honor those lost.
It reflects a growing desire to not let these deaths be forgotten, even if change remains a distant hope.
