As Kenyans brace for the upcoming June 25, 2025, protests dubbed “Gen Z Memorial March”, claims and fears that there is a sinister plot to harm those who show up have shadowed the planned protests.

While police have publicly assured citizens of their security, a storm of allegations has begun to swirl online and within political circles.

There are growing claims that gangs may be mobilised to infiltrate or target the peaceful demonstrators, as witnessed during Tuesday’s June 17 protest in Nairobi, where political figures were allegedly reported to have engaged goons to disrupt the demonstrations sparked by the killing of Albert Ojwang.

On June 16, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua urged families of Gen Z protest victims killed last year to stay away from the memorial march. Speaking during an interview on Vernacular Radio and TV stations – Kameme FM and Kameme TV, Gachagua claimed there is a sinister plot to harm those who show up for the protests, alleging that gangs could be used to target the youth.

“I am afraid that if our youths show up for the planned event on June 25 to remember those who lost their lives last year during the protests, the government will use gangs to kill them. The level of desperation William Ruto and his people have reached is very high,” said Gachagua.

The Former Deputy President advised that the memorials should be conducted peacefully at home instead. “I urge our youth not to go to the streets because they might be targeted for killings. Let’s do the commemorations in our homes,” he said.

During the June 17 protest in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), club-wielding goons, some armed with machetes, whips and stones, walked alongside uniformed police officers. They turned a peaceful demonstration into a violent clash that exposed troubling ties between rogue police and hired goons.

Video footage shared on social and mainstream media showed hired goons barking orders at anti-riot officers, instructing them to lob teargas at the protesters, orders which the uniformed police obeyed.

Police Deny Claims

Nairobi Regional Police Commander George Seda denied claims that police colluded with criminal gangs during the June 17 protest in the CBD, stating that officers acted within the law and efforts were underway to identify and prosecute rogue police officers.

The Regional Police boss dismissed the so-called “unholy alliance” between police and gangs. “The goons and the police had no relationship…. It was difficult to distinguish between the goons and the protesters,” Seda said on June 18, during a press briefing in Nairobi.

The Regional Police boss acknowledged that police officers faced a chaotic and fluid situation, and in some instances, the anti-riot team refrained from making arrests to avoid escalating tensions.

“We have been seeing goons attacking officers with stones; they might have shifted to using fimbos (clubs). We were operating in what I would call a troubled zone, and in such volatile situations, any overreaction can make the situation difficult to manage. That’s why you see there were people we could have arrested, but doing so might have worsened the situation,” he added.

The regional police commander confirmed that investigations were underway to identify and apprehend the attackers. “Our team has been assembled to investigate who these goons are, who hired them, and who facilitated their presence at the protests. Once we arrest one or two, we will uncover the network behind them,” Seda said.

June 25th, Memorial March

During the press briefing, the police commander said security preparations were well underway, assuring participants and the public of their safety during the protest.

“For June 25, we have got what we call the enhanced plan for that; the letter, which was delivered to central, we are equally having that copy of their intents,” Seda said.

The commander stressed the importance of maintaining peaceful conduct, stating that while the right to demonstrate is protected, disruptions to public order or acts of violence would not be tolerated.

“What I would like to urge the public is to let us restrict ourselves to peaceful demonstrations; let us not have demonstrations which are going to interfere with the other people who may not be part of the demonstrators,” Seda appealed.

The June 25th protest marks one year since the June 25, 2024, demonstrations against the Finance Bill. The day turned tragic after a violent police crackdown left several people dead and others injured as they protested punitive tax measures.

The opposition is insisting that June 25th be recognised as a symbolic public holiday to honour protesters who were killed, amid claims of persistent targeting, kidnappings, abductions, intimidation, unlawful arrests, and murder of Kenyans, especially the youth.