Kenyan comedian Jaymo Ule Msee, whose real name is Wilson Muirani Gathoni, has apologised to Generation Z over his past remarks about the anti-government protests, months after facing public backlash.
In a statement shared on November 3, 2026, Jaymo acknowledged that his comments during the June 25, 2025 demonstrations were insensitive and failed to respect the pain and concerns of young Kenyans.
The comedian had previously described the memorial protests, held to mark one year since the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations, as “very fake”, claiming they had a tribal leaning and “zero impact”.
In his apology, Jaymo said he regretted dismissing the demonstrations and acknowledged that he should have listened to the concerns raised by protesters.
“To Gen Z: I sincerely apologise for my insensitive remarks on 25 June 2025. I failed to give your pain and concerns the respect they deserved. I should have listened. I was wrong,” he wrote.
He also apologised to people who had been offended by his political content, taking responsibility for his past statements.
“To everyone I hurt through my political videos: I am sorry. You deserved more care from me. I own my words and choices,” he added.
Alongside the apology, Jaymo revealed that he was facing serious financial difficulties, attributing them partly to his political choices and personal financial decisions.
“Today, I am super broke. My political choices and financial mistakes have cost me deeply. I cannot blame politics for everything when I made decisions too,” he said.
He appealed to his followers for financial contributions, saying any amount would help him rebuild his career and return to content creation.
The comedian also announced a 20-episode comeback series titled Inside the Life of a Prodigal Creator, which is scheduled to premiere on November 9, 2026.
His apology has, however, attracted mixed reactions, with some social media users questioning his timing and suggesting that his change of position was driven by financial difficulties and loss of public support.
Others told him to seek assistance from the political leaders he had previously defended rather than turning to the same young people he had criticised.
Jaymo acknowledged that apologising alone would not restore the trust he had lost, saying he would have to demonstrate change through his actions.
The Gen Z protests began in June 2024 after young Kenyans took to the streets to oppose the Finance Bill 2024, which proposed new taxes on various everyday items, including bread, cooking oil, diapers and sanitary products.
The demonstrations, largely organised through social media, spread from Nairobi to several other counties as young people raised concerns about the rising cost of living, unemployment and government spending.
On June 25, 2024, protesters marched to Parliament, where clashes with police turned deadly. Human rights organisations subsequently documented more than 60 deaths, hundreds of injuries and numerous arrests.
President William Ruto later withdrew the Finance Bill following the widespread demonstrations.
A year later, on June 25, 2025, Kenyans returned to the streets to commemorate those killed or injured during the protests.
It was these memorial demonstrations that Jaymo dismissed as “very fake”, remarks that drew criticism from sections of the public.
