Protesters use a large home-made catapult to throw stones at police at Patel roundabout, Kisumu City on March 30, 2023.
For years, whenever the nation has found itself at a crossroads, the Nyanza region has often supplied the loudest voices, the strongest resistance and at times the heaviest sacrifices in championing one cause or another.
From the days of Kenya’s first vice president, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, to the era of his son, the late Raila Odinga, Nyanza and the Luo community have owned the dissenting brand.
The pursuit of reforms has come at a steep price. Deaths, injuries, missing persons, arrests and the destruction of property have been some of the consequences. Locals have also suffered decades of economic and infrastructural marginalisation by successive governments.
Protesters run away from water released by a police’s water cannon vehicle during a mass rally called by the opposition leader Raila Odinga in Kibera, Nairobi on March 20, 2023.
While Mr Odinga occupied the political battlefields, his word carried the weight of a commander’s order. His supporters followed his calls with unwavering discipline, whether marching in protests, boycotting products linked to perceived adversaries, or declaring and observing public holidays at will.
In his absence, his political base finds itself at a defining moment — torn between embracing the broad-based government he helped midwife and revive the culture of street pressure that has long defined their political identity.
Ahead of June 25, the dilemma has become more pronounced. Calls are ready, gathering momentum for peaceful demonstrations to commemorate the historic Gen Z protests that culminated in the storming of Parliament during opposition to the Finance Bill, 2024.
The anniversary has exposed fault lines not only across the country but particularly within the Luo community, where competing visions are now colliding.
On one end is the breakaway faction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party called Linda Mwananchi. Championed by, among others, Siaya Governor James Orengo, it insists that the spirit of resistance must remain alive. They have pledged solidarity with affected families and argued that the ODM must not abandon its historic mission of defending the rights and freedoms of Kenyans.
On the opposite side stand the “main” ODM stalwarts led by party leader Oburu Oginga, Chairperson Gladys Wanga, alongside other leaders from the Luo Nyanza region who feel the community must turn the page on perpetual confrontation, embrace the opportunities in President William Ruto’s government and spare another generation of young people from paying political battles with their blood.
The unfolding debate is a contest over the soul of a community whose political identity has for decades been forged in the fires of resistance, but could be mulling to pursue influence from within the corridors of power.
Siaya Governor James Orengo at his Ugenya home in Siaya County, on February 27, 2026. It is disappointing that a politician of his stature would resort to remarks widely perceived as sexist for political advantage.
On Thursday, Governor Orengo – together with other pro-reform leaders, including Martha Karua, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Prof Kivutha Kibwana and other human rights activists – petitioned and notified the Inspector-General of Police of a peaceful nationwide march on June 25.
They invited all Kenyans to march to Parliament to demand justice and lay flowers where some young people were killed during the 2025 protests.
“Parallel vigils and commemorations will take place across all 47 counties. Mark your calendars. June 25th will be observed as a public holiday. No work, no school,” said Mr Orengo.
He maintained that being in government does not secure a person’s rights.
“I heard people saying let us stay in government. I am the one who knows how to be in government. Being in government does not guarantee you anything. What matters is you must fight for your rights. Governments are very dangerous,” said Governor Orengo.
An opposition supporter pushes a tire in front of a burning barricade during protests against the high cost of living in Nairobi, Kenya on July 19, 2023.
However, his calls for demos have not been received well by leaders from the Nyanza region, some that have accused him of trying to take the community steps back.
“As the Luo community, Raila left us with Gor Mahia Football Club and the ODM Party. We shall never gamble with the lives of our people. Somebody cannot come and lie to us to abandon the broad based government and go to the streets, have our sons killed, our leaders arrested so that we create an opportunity for others in this government,” said Ms Wanga.
She and other leaders were speaking in Nyakach, Kisumu County, during a memorial service for Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda’s parents.
Ms Wanga said anyone attempting to lead the Luo community in a direction other than working with President Ruto must explain their endgame.
She reiterated her support for President Ruto by pointing out the goodwill from the head of state after he allocated Sh2 billion towards the compensation of victims of protests.
“The President has said those who died or were injured during the protests shall be compensated. But instead of supporting this, you go ahead and write a letter condemning the move. What exactly do you want? You cannot return to life but at least let the aggrieved families get something,” said Ms Wanga.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga appears before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Otieno Kajwang' at Bunge Tower, Nairobi on June 16, 2026.
She asked anybody who was affected to bring their names to Orange House so that nobody would be left out of the compensation list.
Her statements were targeted at Governor Orengo who recently released a statement stating that the Sh2 billion is insufficient to compensate victims of human rights violations.
“The rush to operationalise the framework is an attempt to manage public outrage over deaths and injuries associated with demonstrations in the few days following the Gen Z memorial on June 25th. A constitutional democracy cannot operate on the basis that rights may be violated today and compensated tomorrow. Rights are intended to be protected, not to be priced,” said Mr Orengo.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said that people from Nyanza have held demonstrations for many years and have seen its negative effects, maintaining that they will not encourage their supporters to go back to the streets.
“Just like Raila gave us a political direction and showed us the way to development, we do not have a reason to go back to the streets to protest. I want to tell my Governor Orengo to stop misleading the Luo community. If you want to go to the streets, go with your family members,” said Mr Wandayi.
He rallied the community to support Dr Ruto’s re-election because, according to him, he is the first President to value the region as part of Kenya that deserves development just like any other.
Mr Kasmuel McOure, one of the young people made famous by the Gen Z protests, has taken an about-turn after he joined ODM. He is currently among the youthful leaders within the ODM party who are against protests.
“It is us the youth who usually go for these protests, but this time we will not heed the call. This issue of using the youth in protests must stop. Now that President Ruto is set to compensate victims of protests, we will not go back to the streets,” said Mr McOure.
While they were not against demonstrations, Dr Oginga and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed have, however, called for an end to hired violent groups and political goons, urging citizens to demonstrate peacefully without carrying weapons.
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot.
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, the Senate Majority Leader, urged the Nyanza region not to engage in demonstrations, as has been the case where they carried the burden of Kenyans for years.
“Kisumu has done its fair share of being in the opposition while other sections of the country continue to develop. We have stopped this business of excluding and discriminating against the people of this region. If anyone feels they want to be in the opposition, they should leave Kisumu out of it,” said Mr Cheruiyot.
Mr Cheruiyot said the late Raila Odinga left his people in the broad-based government where “brilliant brains from the region have been given an opportunity to serve in various capacities”.
“Do not allow people to gamble with your lives this time round. Let us support the broad base because this is where prosperity is. Do not allow Orengo to mislead you. I know him very well, I was with him in the Senate for 10 years. His head is stuck on demonstrations and is rarely in Siaya,” said Mr Cheruiyot.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has warned goons against disrupting the protests on Thursday, June 25, saying anyone who carries stones, match boxes, attempting to attack police stations will face the full force of the law.
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