Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has confirmed that she is actively leading a fundraising drive and offering pro-bono legal assistance to Gen-Z protesters arrested during the June 25 and July 7 (Saba Saba) anti-government demonstrations, many of whom remain in custody due to lack of funds.

Her statement follows an advisory from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), which warned the public of fraudulent individuals posing as fundraisers. The LSK clarified that it is not conducting or endorsing any such initiative and urged Kenyans to verify appeals before donating.

“Please note that the said fundraising drive is not being conducted and or endorsed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) National Office,” read part of the LSK notice.

In response, Maina reaffirmed the legitimacy of her efforts through social media:

"Hello everyone, in regard to the cash-bail for all Gen-Zs held in our maximum security prisons because they come from underprivileged families, we are ONLY raising funds through a till number and number for Kenyans and the diaspora."

As of 2 p.m. Saturday, she reported that the campaign had raised KSh997,527 from both local and diaspora supporters.

In addition to fundraising, Maina revealed that she has offered pro-bono legal services to over 150 Gen-Zs across the counties, many of whom she says were arrested while simply walking home from school, work, or visiting friends. 

Maina expressed grave concern over the government’s labelling of young protesters as terrorists, noting that some have been charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA)—which allows detention for up to 360 days. She criticized the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for routinely seeking to detain these youths for 14, 21, or even 30 days without trial.

“It is an attempt to criminalize young people’s dissent and deter any future attempt to exercise Article 37,” she warned, referencing the constitutional right to protest.

She also raised concerns over the inappropriate use of Kahawa Law Courts, a special anti-terrorism court set up with international funding and technical assistance, to process protest-related cases, thereby bypassing local courts and overburdening a system meant for high-profile terrorism cases.

Maina further condemned the remand of youths in maximum-security prisons, arguing that this not only imposes cruel conditions but also limits family access and mixes them with convicted offenders. Most of the affected youths come from underprivileged families and have been unable to afford bail, which ranges from KSh50,000 to KSh300,000.

“Over 100 Gen-Zs already admitted to bail or bond terms are still behind bars simply because their families cannot raise the money,” she said.