Your guns won't silence our voices, opposition and protesters tell Ruto

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka flanked by Kitui Senator Enock Wambua,DAP-K Party leader Eugene Wamalwa , Lawyer Njiru Ndegwa lead relatives' victims in laying wreath along Parliament road, Nairobi  ahead of the Gen Zs 1st anniversary demonstration  . June 25th,2025. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

One year ago, the sound of gunfire echoed across Kenya as desperate parents mourned sons and daughters killed by police during protests. Chants of “Ruto must go” and “One term” unified angry Kenyans demanding an end to government excesses.

And as the youth poured onto roads, streets and highways yesterday to demand justice for the 60 young people killed last year, they accused President William Ruto of mismanagement, corruption, failure to address the soaring cost of living, unfulfilled promises, and police brutality.

One protester said he voted for the Kenya Kwanza administration in 2022 because Ruto promised to put money into people’s pockets and end police brutality.

“Instead, the President has done the contrary. It is his administration that has led to the dilapidation of the economy. It is his government that has increased cases of police brutality and enforced disappearances. Just last year, over 60 innocent protesters were killed by police, and nothing has been done,” said Martin Kaunda.

"We are tired, our lives are unbearable.”

And as the protesters paralysed business in Nairobi and other towns, a team of Opposition leaders marched to Parliament where they laid flowers on the barricaded area in honour of the Gen Z who died within its grounds on June 25, last year.

“I can understand as a parent why these children are angry because they were mauled down, shot at and killed, they were maimed and a year after, and two for some of us since 2023, nothing has happened. Ruto called them treasonous people, that they were committing acts of treason and therefore had no sympathy for them,” said Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

“I can tell you in years to come this will be celebrated as a national holiday properly, and  people able to come to Parliament without having heavily armed policemen to kill their citizens, what a shame.”

The leaders urged Kenyans to remain bold. He said the young people are gaining their strength from Article 1 of the Constitution.

“They are rightfully angry, and we want to plead with them because we have seen some of the social posts saying if they die, they do not want Sh2 million. They are resolute,and that anger cannot be ignored. It needs to be nurtured, and we want to assure them that as their parents, we understand and feel the pain,” he said.

He commended the international community for calling out the government, and dismissed Belgut MP Nelson Koech, the chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Defence, for criticising the foreign embassies.

“When it comes to the issue of human rights, they are universal. You cannot run to a corner called Kenya and plead non-interference,” said Kalonzo.

Retired Chief Justice David Maraga was also on the streets and among the people, teargassed as supporters shielded him to safety. 

“We strongly condemn the use of state violence against grieving families and peaceful protesters. The flagrant violation of the Constitution and human rights must stop. In solidarity with the families and friends of the heroes and heroines of the third liberation,” he said. 

Earlier, Maraga had issued a statement saying June 25 marks an important moment in Kenya’s history, a beginning of third liberation for the country.

“Just like the first liberation – the fight against the British colonialists – this generation of young people, the Gen Z, has paid the ultimate sacrifice with their blood. So as they march to remember those amongst them that were abducted, tortured, maimed and murdered, we stand in solidarity with them,” he stated.

The former CJ said the use of the disciplined forces to disrupt peaceful demonstrations is unconstitutional.

“Any deployment of the uniformed forces against peaceful demonstrations is unlawful. If it happens, as it has happened in the past, the Commander-in-Chief must be held accountable… We, the people, stay committed to peace and justice. To reset this country to the rule of law, restoring utu and the value for human life and rebuilding our institutions.” (See separate story, Page 11)

Former Attorney General Justin Muturi condemned the move by the Communication Authority of Kenya to ban live broadcasts.

“Let me be clear, this is a direct assault on our constitutional order and cannot stand. Article 33 of the Constitution guarantees every Kenyan the right to freedom of expression. Article 34 goes even further to safeguard the independence of the media, explicitly stating that the State shall not interfere with broadcasting or penalise anyone for their opinion or its dissemination,” he said.

Muturi added that shutting down broadcasters was dangerous, insisting that the truth cannot be suppressed by switching off the microphones and cameras.

“We must resist this creeping authoritarianism with every fibre of our being. Now, with protests happening across the country, one must ask, why now? If this blackout is a calculated move to conceal atrocities or to do the unthinkable under the cover of silence, let this serve as a warning: Kenyans are watching. The world is watching. Do not even think about it,” he said.

DAP-K Leader Eugene Wamalwa wondered what Ruto is seeking to hide from Kenyans.

“Does he want to unleash the military, which we are aware is on standby at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, on his fellow citizens, or the state-sponsored goons who are already mobilised?” 

“This is dictatorship of the worst kind and a total violation of constitutional rights of Kenyans, including their right to information under article 35 and freedom of the media which is guaranteed under article 34 of our Constitution as the cornerstone of our democracy.”

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi condemned police violence and called for dialogue, and a genuine willingness to listen that we will find a path to peaceful resolution of grievances and the restoration of calm in our beloved nation."

Many protesters said they would not be cowed.

“Most of us are graduates, but we can’t have jobs as the Kenya Kwanza administration has decided it will dish out the opportunities to their cronies. Those of us who demanded accountability have ended up being killed, so we should die by the bullet demanding our rights,” said Clare on Thika Road.

The protesters wondered why justice was only seen to be working for the powerful. They claimed the government moved with speed and arrested suspects in the murder of Kasipul MP Ongodo Were.

“It is a year down the line, and most of the families have been in turn left without closure. It is we who will stand by them as we continue pushing the top government officials to step aside to allow a people-oriented government that will hold the security agencies accountable and produce the missing Gen Z, dead or alive,” said a protester.

They accused the President of lying that he would end police kidnappings. "He has assured families of compensation but that has not come to pass. This is why we feel the Head of State is taking us for granted, and if there is nothing he can say and implement, then he needs to just accept he has failed and go,” said Roy Sam.