President Ruto says schools, businesses, and workplaces must run normally on June 25, warning against any destruction of property during the Gen Z memorial.
Ruto Warns Against Chaos Ahead of June 25 Memorial March
President William Ruto has issued a stern warning against any form of illegal activity during next week's planned memorial march honoring victims of the 2024 Gen Z-led anti-government protests.
No Room for Destruction, Says President
Speaking on Friday at the National Productivity and Performance Conference at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete, Nairobi, the President said participants would not be allowed to violate the rights of other Kenyans, disrupt economic activity, or engage in the destruction of property. He was blunt on the matter, stating that mobilising people to destroy property or cause mayhem simply would not be tolerate.
Background to the Memorial
The June 25 memorial has been organised by families, relatives, and friends of those killed during the anti-government demonstrations that culminated in protesters breaching Parliament grounds on June 25, 2024, while opposing the Finance Bill, 2024. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights placed the death toll from those protests at 60.
The planned commemorations have drawn support from civil society groups, human rights activists, and opposition figures, with organisers formally notifying the Inspector General of Police of the planned procession. Among prominent figures backing the event are former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Martha Karua, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and Senior Counsel Gitobu Imanyara. Organisers intend to march to Parliament Buildings, lay flowers at sites where protesters were shot, and present a memorandum demanding justice for victims and an end to police brutality. They have also called for a nationwide stay-away, urging parents to keep children home from school and workers to stay away from their jobs.
Business as Usual, Ruto Insists
The President dismissed the stay-away proposal, insisting that normal activities would continue uninterrupted across the country. He stressed that children have a right to attend school, workers must report to their jobs to keep the nation productive, and business owners and farmers alike should carry on as usual to keep the economy moving.
Security Concerns Linger
The planned memorial comes amid heightened fears of possible violence, following past incidents where suspected hired gangs infiltrated demonstrations and disrupted otherwise peaceful gatherings. During last year's anniversary, groups of club-wielding men on motorcycles were seen attacking protesters and journalists, at times within full view of police, sparking accusations of inaction and complicity by law enforcement.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has recently raised alarm over politicians allegedly hiring criminal gangs to cause chaos at public gatherings and political events. Last week, Inspector General Douglas Kanja ordered a nationwide crackdown on suspected criminal gangs and politically sponsored goons, following a rise in politically linked violence, including an attack by armed youths at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi. The security operation is expected to continue in the days leading up to the memorial as authorities work to prevent disruptions to the planned commemorations.