The opposition is mobilizing supporters from outside Nairobi for planned demonstrations against President William Ruto’s government scheduled for the end of the month.
Multiple sources who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity revealed that supporters are being organized from the surrounding counties of Kajiado, Kiambu, and Machakos, with others reportedly coming from as far as Nyeri and Nyandarua.
According to individuals involved in the planning, the upcoming protests are intended to mirror the June 2024 Gen Z demonstrations that shook the Ruto administration.
Those protests, which drew massive crowds in Nairobi and led to the storming of Parliament buildings, forced President Ruto to dissolve his entire cabinet and appoint a new one that included figures from the opposition in an effort to stabilize his government.
This time, however, organizers believe the political landscape has changed significantly. With veteran opposition leader the late Raila Odinga now out of the picture, planners say President Ruto faces a more unpredictable and potentially volatile wave of dissent.
“The momentum is building again, but this time it’s not about personalities, it’s about the system,” said one source familiar with the mobilization efforts.
Security agencies are reportedly on high alert, with intelligence units monitoring movements in and out of the capital.
Government officials have yet to issue a formal statement on the planned demonstrations, though insiders suggest that contingency plans are being drawn up to prevent a repeat of the June 2024 unrest.
The planned protests could test the resilience of Ruto’s administration once again, especially amid growing public frustration over the high cost of fuel and governance concerns.
