In the end, it was the peaceful approach of the activists (even though some, such as the comedian Eric Omondi, were taken away in a van) and the opposition politicians that prevailed; they marched together, just as they hope to do in the run-up to the election campaign.
The government emerged victorious; it had promised to protect the demonstrators whilst at the same time taking a hard line against alleged hooligans and infiltrators, deemed to be the main cause of the many casualties during the protests of recent years.
The police emerged victorious; with their tactic of blocking off the areas from which troublemakers originate – particularly the outskirts of major cities, especially the capital Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Eldoret – they killed two birds with one stone: on the one hand, it allowed peaceful demonstrators to march, whilst better monitoring their intentions; on the other, it blocked any possibility of those who usually join in just to cause trouble gaining access to the demonstration sites, through targeted raids and numerous arrests.
What remained were the key figures of the 2024 protests: the so-called Gen Z. 
Many stayed at home, whilst others were themselves arrested as a preventive measure because they were deemed ‘agitators’, particularly those who had posted provocative comments on social media. Others were absent because they had already been killed in previous protests. In their place, at the front of the march led by opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua and David Maraga, were the mothers and relatives of the victims, who, live on television, demanded the compensation that had been promised but has yet to materialise.
 
In short, everyone came out on top, as in the most well-established democracies. Kenya needs to remain calm, relaxed and ready for an election campaign, between now and August 2027, which promises to be fiercely contested, though doubts remain as to who will challenge the clear favourite, William Ruto, who is seeking a second term and enjoys the favour of international public opinion.
Meanwhile, on the domestic front, despite having to contend with persistent dissent, he has regained ground, partly due to the way he managed the day of remembrance, which could have turned into yet another occasion for violence and excessive responses from the police.
Now we fast-forward directly to 7 July, ‘saba saba’ – another commemoration, more demonstrations – and let’s hope that there, too, everyone can claim to have won, which means that at least we won’t see any more mothers and relatives marching in place of those who are no longer with us.