Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has said the declaration of June 25 holiday is meant to only remember those who were killed during the anti-government protests in 2024, but not to cause chaos.
The opposition led by Kalonzo had on June 7 called on Kenyans to boycott work on June 25, declaring it a symbolic public holiday.
The Wiper leader said they do not have other intentions but just to light candles and mourn the departed.
Speaking on Sunday during a Church Service in Kilifi, Kalonzo called on religious leaders to join the movement, saying they will need to christen Parliament buildings where blood was spilt.
“We ask the Church to join us on June 25 as we go to Parliament. I have this idea that Kenya should go there and light candles in front of the Parliament building and christen the place because the blood of our children was spilt there,” Kalonzo said.
“We shall light candles on June 25 outside Parliament. Just light candles in an organised manner for the remembrance of the fallen Gen Zs.”
This comes after the Gen Z anti-government protests in 2024 that resulted in at least five reported deaths.
Kalonzo announced that the day would henceforth be marked as “Gen Z Liberation Day” to pay tribute to the youth-led protests against the government’s economic policies and tax hikes.
“I want to declare that June 25 will be a public holiday for all Kenyans in honour of our Gen Zs who were killed when they tried to submit a petition to Parliament,” Kalonzo said.
“June 25 will be a liberation day to commemorate the sacrifice of our Gen Zs who sought to liberate this country.”
The 2024 protests were led by mostly leaderless and digitally organised Gen Z demonstrators demanding systemic reforms, jobs, accountability, and an end to what they called exploitative governance.
Although opposition leaders lack the legal authority to declare a national public holiday—a mandate that lies with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen—their call could significantly disrupt normalcy in several towns.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah had in an undated video claimed that opposition leaders are planning to weaponise the proposed June 25 ‘public holiday’ to incite the youth against the government.
The Kikuyu MP warned the opposition that President William Ruto’s administration will not allow them to capitalise on young people to divide the country along generational lines.
“For those who imagine that the unfortunate events of last June are something they can use to incite Kenyans—please look for another agenda,” he said on June 7, 2025.
Ichung’wah also emphasised that only the government has the legal authority to declare a public holiday.
“There is nobody with the authority to declare a public holiday in Kenya except the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration,” he stated.
Let’s get a few things straight. Kalonzo Musyoka has been in holiday since he was first elected as MP in March 1985. That is more than 40 years. Can Kalonzo Muysoka mention just one thing he has done for his constituents or for the country in those four decades. Nothing.
So now Kalonzo is jumping all over the Gen Z movement when he is approaching his 80th birthday and is facing the last election where he thinks he has a chance to win and he is crawling desperately behind Rigathi Gachagua everyday knowing Gachagua cannot hold office in Kenya after his impeachment. Only Kalonzo Musyoka can make losing in politics look so hard or maybe very easy.
Kalonzo needs to focus on voter registration for young Kenyans instead of blocking IEBC which means there will be no voter registration for another year.
Guess what even the Ruto alliance needs voter registration. Did you see that crowd in Homa Bay on Madaraka Day. 90% of them looked like young people. They do not have voting cards. Let them and other young Kenyans have voting cards so they can decide the next national leadership in their country. There can’t be anything wrong with that. Right?
And this kind of madness and state terrorism has to stop immediately and completely. We are not going take it anymore. We are going to storm the Kenya Embassy here in Ottawa like we did before when President Moi was killing Kenyans. The Ambassador was recalled after he got into fist fights with us.
We are ready for that now if these police killings do not stop in our country.
Amnesty condemns Albert Ojwang’s death, calls for speedy probe
Amnesty International said no Kenyan should lose their life while in police custody.
Human Rights Group has condemned the death of Albert Ojwang, allegedly at the Central Police Station.
Albert Ojwang, a teacher based in Voi, was allegedly arrested on Saturday in Migori town over what authorities described as a “derogatory” post on X (formerly Twitter).
Amnesty International said no Kenyan should lose their life while in police custody, and those entrusted with their protection.
The rights group called for speedy investigations saying the findings must be made public and officers found responsible held accountable.
They said police officers have a legal and moral duty to ensure the safety and well-being of every person under their custody.
“The death of Albert Ojwang while in detention raises serious questions that must be urgently, thoroughly, and independently investigated by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR),” the statement read.
“This incident is yet another stark reminder of the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and far-reaching reforms within our law enforcement institutions.”
Ojwang had travelled to Migori to visit family when he was picked up by police officers. He was driven to Nairobi and booked at a police station for further questioning.
Police said he died by suicide after allegedly injuring himself while alone in a cell.
He was found with serious head injuries believed to be self-inflicted and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“He was rushed to the hospital after what we think was an attempted suicide. He had injured himself in the head and was rushed to the hospital, where he died. He did not die here in custody,” said Nairobi Central Police boss Stephen Okal.
The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy. Ojwang’s family has been informed and was expected in Nairobi to witness the post-mortem.
On Sunday, Albert Ojwang’s father Meshack Ojwang narrated the last moments he had with his son before his arrest and later death.
His father said it was about 1 pm when the family had just returned from the farm where he was tending to vegetables.
“Later, when we came back home, he told me that he wanted to go for trees in Ringa to plant them, and I gave him a motorcycle. When he was back from Ringa, his mother welcomed us with food. I was eating in the house while he was outside eating with his family,” he said.
Meshack said he suddenly heard a motorcycle coming to the house and went out to welcome them, thinking they were guests.
“They came with three motorcycles, one came through the back and another one through the front entrance. Each motorcycle carried two people. They approached me and introduced themselves as police officers,” he said.
Meshack narrated that the police officers introduced themselves as per the different stations where they were based.
He said that his son was arrested and was taken to the police station. The officers asked him to follow them to the station.
