Leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza administration are now demanding the immediate arrest of opposition figures allegedly behind past and upcoming protests set for June 25.

In terse statements made over the weekend, the pro-government leaders warned that the planned demonstrations on Wednesday threaten national peace and stability.

Speaking at a Women Empowerment Forum in Navakholo, Kakamega County, a group of senior Kenya Kwanza leaders—led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, and President’s aide Farouk Kibet—accused the opposition of “promoting anarchy and inciting violence.”

“This is no longer about freedom of expression. This is a deliberate attempt to destabilise the nation and derail our development agenda,” Ichung’wah said.

Wetang’ula urged political leaders to view elections as a competition, not a source of enmity, and called for peaceful coexistence across political and ethnic lines.

Other leaders present, including Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and MPs Sylvanus Osoro, Beatrice Elachi, Bernard Shinali, and Emmanuel Wangwe, echoed the sentiments, warning against what they termed the opposition’s plot to divide Kenyans along tribal lines.

The Kenya Kwanza leaders claim the opposition is inciting Gen Z youth to take to the streets to create chaos and undermine the government.

The planned protest, dubbed "Gen Z Day," is spearheaded by opposition leaders, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

They attended an interdenominational prayer service at All Saints’ Cathedral in Nairobi on June 22, in honour of young Kenyans killed during the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.

They have called on the public to stay home and treat June 25 as a symbolic public holiday in memory of the youth who were killed during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.

Others have called for an outpouring in the streets on Wednesday to light candles in honour of the Gen Zs who lost their lives on June 25, 2024.

Opposition leaders insist that the day will be marked peacefully and will focus solely on commemorating the lives lost during the past demonstrations.

But tensions are already high across the country, with concerns of potential unrest, business disruption, and police crackdown.

Families of the victims have urged politicians not to politicise the memorial protests, with some accusing leaders on both sides of using grief for political mileage.

"We ask that you do not hijack this moment. This day belongs to the families who buried their children, not political opportunists," said Njanja Maina, a vocal human rights advocate.

"We’ve seen how paid thugs are used to infiltrate peaceful protests. We will not allow them to exploit our grief."

Meanwhile, Nairobi police commander George Seda confirmed receipt of official communication about the demonstrations and assured the public that security will be provided.

“Let’s restrict ourselves to what we call peaceful demonstrations,” Seda said on Wednesday.

“Let’s not have demonstrations which are going to interfere with other people who may not be part of the demonstrators.”

The June 25 protests are shaping up to be a major test for both the government and the opposition in managing public dissent, youth activism, and the legacy of the 2024 demonstrations.