Youthful protesters who poured into the streets in June 2024 to oppose that year’s Finance Bill and demand sweeping reforms famously declared that they were leaderless, partyless and tribeless.
It was an unusual stance in a country where identity has always defined politics. But with days to the second anniversary of the Z protests, expected to be marked on June 25, the day of the attempt to storm Parliament, there’s jostling among opposition politicians and activists to be at the forefront of the demonstrations with eyes firmly on the 2027 General Election.
Since 2024, some of the key voices in the youth-led voices have aligned with key political formations, while others have maintained that only a clean slate with new players will save Kenya.
On Thursday, Siaya Senator James Orengo, who is aligned to the Linda Mwananchi faction of ODM, led the relatives of protest victims to notify the police of the planned protests. Mr Orengo and his group, which includes embattled ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, have previously suggested the protests should be used to remove President William Ruto’s administration from power.
This week, the Siaya Governor said he expected a total shutdown: “Mark your calendars: June 25th will be observed as a Public Holiday. No work, no school!”
Also present were former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, retired Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, former MP Gitobu Imanyara, and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua . The delegation that sought an audience with the Inspector General of Police also included the civil society.
While influential youthful voices have mostly said on social media that the anniversary is a "memorial March" to honour those killed during the June 25, 2024, protests — and at a similar event in 2025 — opposition politicians have displayed their ill-disguised intention to ride on the wave.
"We are planning to hold peaceful demonstrations on June 25, to mark the second anniversary of the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests. We want the government to hasten the compensation and justice for the victims of the protests and others in the past. It will be peaceful, and we don't want to be infiltrated by politicians," said David Kimani, a Nakuru-based youth leader of the People’s Power Watch lobby group.
While the protests planned for June 25 are meant to mark the second anniversary of the deadly demonstrations, they are also now being driven by a convergence of fresh grievances, chief among them being alleged bad governance, rising cost of living due to increase of fuel prices, corruption and other ills they say are being perpetuated by the Ruto administration.
Rights activists have also inserted themselves at the centre of the preparations for the commemoration.
Siaya Governor James Orengo shakes hnads with Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga at Jogoo House in Nairobi on June 18, 2026 after presenting a formal notification for peaceful demonstrations to the National Police Service in commemoration of victims of victims of police violence, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
David Kuria says unresolved cases of police brutality and hard economic times in the country are fueling renewed public anger towards the Ruto administration.
He warns that without meaningful engagement, street protests could become a permanent fixture in Kenya's political landscape.
"Unresolved cases of police brutality and fresh incidents reported in the past months have rekindled public outrage. The recent hike in fuel prices and recent remarks by allies of President William Ruto that the regime may interfere with votes in next year's General Election have further angered Kenyans," said Mr Kuria.
He added: "For the Gen Zs, the street is not just a space for dissent but for remembrance, resistance and redefinition of civic identity."
Boniface Mwangi, a prominent rights defender and presidential aspirant, says the day will be used to demand an end to continued police brutality.
"On May 18,2026, several people who were protesting the rise in fuel prices were either fatally shot or injured, yet no action has been taken against those behind it. So far, three people have been killed in the protests to stop the establishment of an Ebola Quarantine facility in Nanyuki, Laikipia County. With all these happening, we are justified to unite and pour into the streets to demand a stop to the trend," said Mr Mwangi.
The Coalition of Victims and Survivors Against State Violence says it is planning the demonstrations to demand compensation for victims and survivors of past brutality.
"We are going to take part in the protests because of the government's delays in compensation of victims despite previous assurances and repeated commitments that the process would be finalised by June 2026," reads part of their letter to the Inspector General of Police.
The letter added: "We are going to use the protests to press for several demands, including the immediate publication of a clear compensation implementation schedule and full disclosure of all funds allocated towards victims’ compensation and their utilisation."
PLP leader Martha Karua (second left), lawyer Gitobu Imanyara, Siaya Governor James Orengo and other leaders walk to Jogoo House, Nairobi, on June 18, 2026 to present a formal notification for peaceful demonstrations to the National Police Service.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
The group has called on the National Police Service to facilitate the demonstrations, saying police are expected to support the exercise of constitutional rights in line with Articles 37 and 244 of the Constitution.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who coalesce around the United Opposition, have also revealed that they will stand with the Gen Zs during the June 25 anniversary.
In an interview with the Sunday Nation , DCP Secretary for Economic Planning Dr Peter Mbae said, "We will stand with the Gen Zs during the June 25 anniversary. We might not necessarily be on the streets, but we will stand with them as they mark the anniversary."
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, a key figure in Linda Mwananchi, revealed that they will join Gen Zs on the streets.
"Linda Mwananchi will join the Gen Zs during their June 25 commemoration. We must stand with Kenyans whenever there are excesses," said Mr Osotsi.
Another opposition politician revealed that demonstrations to mark the anniversary of the June 2024 protests would be extended for three days.
A few weeks ago, during the Linda Mwananchi tour of Nakuru, Orengo hinted that his Linda Mwananchi group was planning to turn organise protest for three days from June 24 to June 26.
"We are tired of bad governance in this country, and on June 24,25 and 26, we will hold a series of protests to coincide with the June 25 Gen Z anniversary. We will make this country ungovernable. This has happened before, and we want to do it again in June," said Mr Orengo.
He maintained that the faction will press on with what he described as a struggle to “liberate the country,” dismissing fears of possible State reprisals.
"We do not fear any prison; we do not fear death or even fear itself. The time has come, and the time to liberate this country is now. This is a one-term administration,” added Mr Orengo.
Governor Orengo said the faction will take advantage of the second anniversary of the June 2024 Gen Z-led protests to demonstrate against President William Ruto's government.
He called on supporters to turn out in large numbers, invoking the memory of young people who lost their lives during the 2024 and 2025 protests against the government.
He added: "We will begin on June 24, and for the three days we will protest against bad governance, corruption and other ills of this regime."
“The one thing that is not going to happen is that people will be mobilised to destroy property, cause chaos or mayhem, which will not happen. Children will go to school because it is their right, workers will go to work, and businesses will open their businesses so that we grow our economy,” President Ruto said.
He added: “We must never allow things that take Kenya backwards. The other day, I saw some people saying how they want to shut down the country. We will defend the rights of everybody because we are a country that believes in order, we are a civilised country, an organised society that believes in the rule of law.”
This week, President Ruto and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights announced the compensation plan for protest victims, which goes beyond the 2024 Gen Z uprising.
The opposition has also been pushing for compensation and justice for the victims of the 2024 protests. On June 10, for instance, Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka demanded that the victims of the June 2024 protests be compensated before the June 25, 2026, commemoration.
"We want the Sh2 billion that the government has promised paid on or before June 25," stated Mr Musyoka.
While acknowledging that compensation alone does not amount to justice, he argued that every family that lost a loved one or suffered as a result of the protests deserves to be compensated accordingly, followed by justice.
According to lawyer and political analyst Steve Kabita, the politicians are jostling to stand in solidarity with the Gen Zs, expected to play an important role in next year's General Election.
"The youth, mainly the Gen Zs, are a force you cannot ignore. Every politician seems to be keen to entice this constituency, which could translate into millions of votes. No politician can afford to ignore the youths, especially with the 2027 General Election on the horizon," Mr Kabita told the Nation .
Siaya Governor James Orengo, PLP leader Martha Karua, former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, and other leaders walk alongside families of victims of police brutality during a march to Jogoo House, Nairobi, on June 18, 2026. The delegation delivered a notification to the Inspector-General of Police ahead of a Day of Remembrance honoring victims of police violence and extra-judicial killings.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
He added: "Politicians like the members of the Linda Mwananchi faction of ODM have in the past months been enticing the youth amid the rising prominence of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. They definitely want to capitalise on the June 25 anniversary to increase their political momentum."
According to pundits, if the Youth-Gen Z in particular, register as voters in large numbers and vote, they could be the most disruptive force in Kenya's history and determine winners of various positions, including the Presidency, Gubernatorial, Senatorial, Members of National Assembly and ward representatives in the 2027 General Election.
"Politicians are making attempts to entice and lure the youth to their side because they have realised they will determine who wins in various positions in 2027. If the youth actually acquire voters' cards and vote en masse in the 2027 polls, their numbers will definitely shape Kenya's political landscape in 2027," Prof Tom Nyamache from Turkana University told the Nation .
"The 2027 polls contests, including that of the presidency, will be largely determined by the youth. The youth, mainly Gen Z, will play a key role in determining who becomes a Governor, a Member of Parliament, a Senator or Member of County Assembly, in the 2027 polls. Politicians cannot afford to be in their bad books," added Prof Nyamache.
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, at least 60 protesters were killed during the June 2024 demonstrations, while another 80 were abducted by individuals believed to be security agents.
The Gen Z protests breached Parliament as youth set ablaze part of the building that houses the National Assembly and the Senate, after Members of Parliament passed the controversial tax-heavy Finance Bill.
The violence and chaos that followed marked one of the most traumatic political episodes in Kenya's history.
During the first anniversary on June 25, 2025, at least 16 people were killed and over 400 others injured.
And nowadays, to commemorate, the deadly protests on June 25, 2026, the country is once again bracing for another round of protests.
