Uprising! Kenyan Gen Z Protesters Ignite Nation Amidst Crackdown & Arrests

On Thursday, June 25, 2026, memorial demonstrations for victims of past anti-government protests led to significant arrests and diverse reactions from prominent public figures across Kenya. Roughly 74 individuals arrested during these demonstrations spent the night at the Nairobi Central Police Station and were expected to be formally charged at the Milimani Magistrates’ Court on Friday, June 26. Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo confirmed these developments, highlighting intense pressure from human rights and legal advocates for the immediate production of all detainees. She stated that the arraignment was agitated for in accordance with the right to a fair trial, with a team of advocates on standby to represent the 74 pro bono. Odhiambo also appealed to lawyers near Kibera and Makadara Law Courts to remain on standby for additional protest-related arraignments. A national security brief from Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen revealed that 355 people were arrested nationwide during the Gen Z memorial protests, with Nairobi County accounting for nearly half of the total apprehensions.

Among those commemorating the second anniversary of the June 2024 anti-government demonstrations was Pastor Victor Kanyari, the controversial founder of Salvation Healing Ministry. In a solemn tribute shared on Thursday, June 25, 2026, the televangelist honored the young men and women who lost their lives during the historic youth-led protests. Through a detailed Facebook message, Kanyari praised the fallen protesters as national heroes whose ultimate sacrifices for governance reforms and state accountability must never be forgotten. He urged unity and hard work to build a brighter future while listing several victims of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill crackdowns, including Evans Kiprotich, Eric Mutinda, Joseph Muraya Daniel Maina, Benard Ndegwa, Henry Ochieng, Emmanuel Kariuki, Joan Chepkoech, Samuel Waweru, Allan Omondi, Faith Chepngetich, Peter Kamau, Brian Otieno, and Agnes Kirui. Beyond this spiritual tribute, Kanyari strategically leveraged the moment to announce his intention to contest the Kasarani parliamentary seat in the upcoming General Election, promising to prioritize grassroots development and economic empowerment.

Comedian-turned-political activist Eric Omondi, a prominent figure in recent youth protests, broke his silence on why he skipped the June 25, 2026, Gen Z memorial demonstrations. He revealed that recent brushes with the law, including a grueling cycle of arrests and ongoing court appearances, forced him off the streets. Omondi disclosed that he had spent three consecutive nights behind bars—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—prior to his arraignment. Instead of joining the physical street processions, he dedicated the anniversary to quiet reflection and prayer in church, framing it as his personal way of honoring the youth who lost their lives in the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests. Despite his physical absence, he urged Kenyans to courageously go out, remember the victims, and mark the day, asserting that peaceful assembly is a constitutional right. Omondi did not hesitate to accuse the government and the National Police Service of instigating violence during public demonstrations, stating that all damage is caused by the police and the Kenyan government. His remarks coincided with a heavily fortified Nairobi, where top opposition leaders and bereaved families defied police blockades to lay wreaths outside Parliament.

Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) Leader Rigathi Gachagua also explained his absence from the June 25 Gen Z memorial protests, claiming he stayed away to foil a state-backed trap. The former Deputy President alleged an orchestrated plot by political adversaries to trigger widespread violence and loot businesses during the demonstrations, with the ultimate goal of blaming the Mt. Kenya region. Gachagua stated that the decision to boycott the streets was carefully calculated during his recent 45-day political hiatus at his Wamunyoro home, where he held extensive consultative strategy meetings. His conspicuous absence was notable, especially as his prominent political allies within the United Opposition alliance marched through the barricaded streets of the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) to honor the youths who lost their lives in the historic 2024 protests.