Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s push to declare June 25 a national holiday, dubbed “Gen Z Revolution Day,” has sparked heated debate.
Intended to honor lives lost during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, the proposal is seen by many as a calculated move by the opposition to co-opt the Gen Z movement while sidestepping the youth’s core demands.
Critics argue that Kalonzo and his allies, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, are fueling tribalism and personal vendettas rather than addressing Kenya’s pressing issues like unemployment, education, and healthcare.
The June 25, 2024, protests, driven by leaderless Gen Z activists, saw young Kenyans storm parliament over tax hikes, resulting in at least five deaths. The youth demanded systemic change—jobs, transparency, and accountability—not symbolic gestures.
Yet, Kalonzo’s holiday proposal, first announced in February 2025 and reiterated this week, has been met with skepticism. “Kalonzo wasn’t there when we bled on the streets. Now he wants to claim our fight with a holiday?” posted X user @Mosescampton. Another user added, “A holiday doesn’t fix 35% youth unemployment. It’s just politics.”
Kalonzo’s move aligns with the opposition’s broader strategy, led by figures like Gachagua, whose “Wantam” slogan targets President William Ruto’s ouster. Gachagua’s 2024 impeachment has fueled his anti-Ruto rhetoric, often laced with ethnic undertones appealing to his Kikuyu base.
Political analyst Dr. Jane Misinjro notes, “The opposition is exploiting Gen Z’s energy to push tribal narratives, not solutions. Kalonzo’s holiday idea is a populist ploy to gain relevance among youth while settling scores with Ruto.” This echoes Kenya’s history of tribal politics, seen in the 2007-08 post-election violence, where leaders mobilized ethnic loyalties for power.
The opposition’s failure to propose policies for education reform, healthcare funding, or job creation—key Gen Z demands—underscores their disconnect. “We want jobs, not holidays,” said Nairobi student Brian Otieno, 21. X posts reflect similar frustration: “Kalonzo’s holiday is a cheap PR stunt. Where’s the plan for our future?”
Meanwhile, Ruto’s administration, despite criticism for heavy-handed protest responses, touts tech and green energy initiatives, though their impact on youth remains debated.
By framing June 25 as a holiday, Kalonzo risks trivializing a movement that rejected traditional politics. The opposition’s focus on tribalism and vendettas over substantive change could alienate the very Gen Z voters they seek to court, leaving Kenya’s youth demanding more than empty gestures.
