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National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has accused opposition leaders of attempting to exploit the proposed June 25 “public holiday” to stir up youth unrest against the government.
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The Kikuyu MP cautioned that President William Ruto’s government would not tolerate any attempts to manipulate young people to create divisions across age groups in the country.
“Anyone thinking they can revive the painful events of last June to provoke Kenyans—find another strategy,” Ichung’wah said on June 7, 2025.
“Even one life lost is not something to politicise. Kenyans reject all forms of division—be it ethnic or generational.”
Ichung’wah stressed that only the national government, through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, has the constitutional authority to declare public holidays.
“No individual or political group has the power to declare a public holiday in Kenya,” he said, warning that the government would not allow youth to be weaponised for political gain.
His remarks come in response to statements by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who urged Kenyans to treat June 25 as a symbolic day of remembrance.
The two leaders have called for a nationwide boycott of work on that day to honour victims of the June 25, 2024 protests, when Gen Z demonstrators clashed with police while opposing the Finance Bill 2024. Security forces opened fire during the chaos, resulting in at least five reported deaths.
Speaking at rallies in Voi, Taita Taveta County on June 7, 2025, Kalonzo urged Kenyans to stay home in solidarity, proclaiming June 25 as “Gen Z Liberation Day.”
“This day will be remembered in honour of our brave young people who died while trying to deliver a petition to Parliament,” Kalonzo said.
The 2024 demonstrations were largely driven by digitally mobilised Gen Z youth calling for economic reforms, job creation, transparency, and resistance to oppressive governance.
