The One Tribe One Nation Gen Z Movement has called off Thursday's planned Maandamano, accusing politicians of plotting to hijack the memorial march for victims of the June 2024 protests.
BREAKING: No Protests on Thursday, June 25 — Gen Z Movement Pulls the Plug
There will be no street protests this Thursday, June 25, after the One Tribe One Nation Gen Z Movement announced a sudden change of plans.
The movement's coordinator, Anthony Karumba, said the decision was reached after it emerged that politicians were planning to hijack the day's events — a memorial march meant to honour the young Kenyans who lost their lives during the June 2024 protests.
A Memorial Hijacked by Political Interests?
What was supposed to be a solemn moment of remembrance had, according to the movement, started attracting unwanted political attention. Karumba's team had reportedly already warned politicians to keep away from the planned Maandamano marking the third anniversary of the deadly events of June 25, 2024, when several young protesters were killed during the anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.
Despite those warnings, signs emerged that politicians intended to show up anyway — a move the Gen Z movement says would distort the purpose of the day and turn a moment meant for grieving families into a political stage.
A Pointed Message to Politicians
In its statement calling off the protests, the movement did not hold back. Their message to any politician still considering showing up was blunt: come with your own children.
The remark appears to be a sharp jab at leaders who, the movement implies, have been quick to associate themselves with the memory of fallen youth while doing little to protect the children of ordinary Kenyans from the very issues — economic hardship, police brutality, and bad governance — that pushed the youth onto the streets in the first place.
What This Means for Thursday
With the official call-off, Kenyans should not expect organised Maandamano activities on June 25 in areas covered by the One Tribe One Nation Gen Z Movement. It remains to be seen whether other Gen Z factions, opposition leaders, or rights groups who had separately notified police of their own demonstrations will proceed with their plans.
This is a developing story. Don Sami Live will keep tracking reactions from other Gen Z voices and politicians as the day approaches.
