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President William Ruto has cautioned against any unlawful conduct during the upcoming June 25 memorial march set to honour victims of the 2024 Gen Z anti-government protests.
Speaking on Friday at the National Productivity and Performance Conference at the Kenya School of Government (KSG) in Lower Kabete, Nairobi, Ruto stressed that the government will not tolerate acts that infringe on other citizens’ rights, disrupt the economy, or lead to destruction of property.
He insisted that any attempts to incite violence or chaos during the event would not be allowed, warning that such behaviour would not be accepted under any circumstances.
The memorial march has been organised by families and friends of those who lost their lives during last year’s demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024, when protesters stormed Parliament on June 25, 2024. According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), about 60 people died during the protests.
The planned event has received backing from civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and opposition leaders who have formally informed the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja. Notable supporters include former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Martha Karua, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and Senior Counsel Gitobu Imanyara.
Organisers say they intend to march to Parliament Buildings, lay flowers at sites where protesters were shot, and submit a memorandum demanding justice for victims and accountability over alleged police brutality. They have also called for a nationwide stay-away, urging parents to keep children from school and workers to remain at home in remembrance.
However, President Ruto rejected the idea of a shutdown, maintaining that schools, businesses, farms, and workplaces should operate normally to support national productivity and economic stability.
Security concerns have also been raised ahead of the march, following past incidents where suspected hired groups disrupted protests and attacked demonstrators and journalists. Similar violence was reported during last year’s commemorations, with allegations of police inaction.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has recently warned about claims of politicians recruiting criminal gangs to cause disruptions during public events. In response, Inspector General Douglas Kanja has ordered a nationwide security crackdown targeting gangs and politically linked violence ahead of the memorial.
