Kenyan Gen Z users on TikTok have launched a coordinated digital remembrance trend using the image of Rex Kanyike Masai, a protester who was killed during the June 20, 2024, anti–Finance Bill demonstrations in Nairobi CBD.
The trend, which has spread rapidly across TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), has seen users replace their profile pictures with Masai’s image and circulate videos and edits in his memory as part of a broader online commemoration of youth who died during the protests.
Ademba Allans linked to online call for remembrance
The movement is being associated online with Ademba Allans, who, according to posts circulating on social media, is the one who initiated the call for the digital tribute week.
In the same online narratives, Ademba is also being identified as a leader within the “Tuko Kadi” movement, a youth-driven digital collective that has been active in online civic conversations. However, the structure, membership and formal recognition of the movement remain unclear, with most activity visible through social media posts and user-generated content.
Supporters of the trend say the coordinated use of Rex Masai’s image is intended to honour his memory and symbolise broader frustrations over protest-related deaths during the 2024 demonstrations.
Rex Masai’s death and its lasting impact
Rex Masai became one of the most widely referenced victims of the June 2024 protests after he was shot during confrontations between demonstrators and police in Nairobi CBD. His death was later confirmed through official investigations, including an autopsy report that indicated he died from a gunshot wound.
The incident sparked national debate on police conduct during protests and contributed to increased scrutiny of law enforcement operations during the anti–Finance Bill demonstrations.
Digital activism and youth memory culture
The current TikTok trend reflects a growing pattern among Kenyan Gen Z users, who increasingly use digital spaces to build collective memory, express political identity, and organise symbolic acts of solidarity.
Profile picture campaigns, hashtags, and short-form videos have become key tools for online civic engagement, particularly around issues tied to governance, accountability, and youth-led protest movements.
Calls for remembrance day
Alongside the trend, some online users have renewed calls for June 25 to be recognised as a national day of remembrance for victims of protest-related violence. These calls remain informal and have not been adopted or endorsed by state institutions.
Bottom line
While the movement continues to gain traction online, much of its structure remains informal and driven by social media momentum. What is clear, however, is that Rex Masai’s image has become a powerful symbol within sections of Kenya’s Gen Z digital activism landscape, representing both remembrance and ongoing demands for accountability.
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