President William Ruto has issued a stern warning to activists and youth groups planning to commemorate the second anniversary of the Gen Z protests on June 25th.
Speaking on Friday during the National Productivity and Performance Conference at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi, the president cautioned against any attempts to disrupt normal operations in the country.
The planned commemorations mark two years since the historic youth-led protests that began on June 25, 2024, when thousands of young Kenyans stormed Parliament grounds to oppose the controversial Finance Bill, which proposed new taxes on bread, vehicles, and mobile money transfers.
The demonstrations, which spread to 23 of Kenya’s 47 counties, resulted in at least 60 deaths, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and forced the government to withdraw the tax proposals. A year later, protesters returned to the streets to honor those killed and demand police accountability, with rights monitors reporting an additional 16 deaths.
Now, families of the slain protesters, joined by opposition leaders including Siaya Governor James Orengo, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, and Martha Karua, have formally notified police of their intention to hold peaceful marches on June 25th.
They plan to march to Parliament Buildings, lay flowers at locations where protesters were shot, and present a memorandum demanding justice for victims and an end to police brutality. The families have also issued six demands, including calls for the prosecution of police officers linked to the killings, a formal public apology from the government, and recognition of June 25 as a national holiday.
However, Ruto dismissed the proposal for a nationwide stay-away, insisting that schools, businesses, and workplaces must operate normally.
“I hear some people saying they want to shut down the country. We will defend the rights of everybody because we are a country that believes viciously in order,” Ruto said.
He emphasized that while the government protects the right to protest, such freedoms must not interfere with economic and social stability. “The one thing that is not going to happen is that people will be mobilized to destroy property or to cause chaos or mayhem. That will not happen,” he stated firmly.
The United States Embassy in Nairobi has also issued a security advisory to its citizens, warning of possible demonstrations and traffic disruptions in major urban centers, particularly Nairobi’s Central Business District, around June 25th.
The embassy urged Americans to avoid crowds, monitor local media, and maintain heightened personal security awareness. As tensions rise, organisers have maintained that their events will remain peaceful, but the government has made it clear that any attempts to shut down the country will be met with a firm response
