Former Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged Gen Z demonstrators to skip planned June 25 nationwide protests, warning from his Nyeri residence on Tuesday that the state has laid a violent trap using hired goons. The alert raises political tensions ahead of the solemn demonstrations commemorating victims of historic anti-government protests.
Speaking from his home in Wamunyoro, Gachagua claimed to have credible intelligence that senior government officials have mobilized gangs to infiltrate the peaceful gatherings. He alleged that these elements plan to destroy property under the cover of plainclothes police officers, allowing security forces to target and blame innocent young protestors.
According to Gachagua, a staggering Sh200 million was recently withdrawn from confidential expenditures within the State Department of Internal Security specifically to fund these disruptions. The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader specified that the coordinated chaos is designed to target Nairobi City County, the Mt. Kenya region, Kajiado, and Narok counties.
“Retreat is not surrender and strategy is not cowardice,” Gachagua stated, pleading with the youth to preserve their lives by staying off the physical streets.
Instead of public marches, the former Deputy President proposed a nationwide economic shutdown. He called upon workers, parents, and motorists to remain indoors on June 25 and 26, while urging business operators in Nairobi and Mt. Kenya to close their shops to protect their inventory from potential looting.
The planned Thursday demonstrations hold deep emotional weight, organized by youth activists as a solemn commemoration to honor victims who lost their lives during the historic anti-government protests of 2024 and 2025. While families of the victims have publicly called for justice and accountability, government security agencies have maintained a firm stance, warning that no unauthorized street protests will be tolerated.
Gachagua explicitly accused specific United Democratic Alliance (UDA) politicians and a senior Cabinet Secretary of masterminding the plot to orchestrate violence and frame opposition figures. He advised the youth to channel their current frustrations away from volatile street actions and instead focus their energies on robust national voter registration to effect legal leadership changes in the next election cycle.
This development highlights the deep-seated political divisions and security anxieties hovering over Kenya’s civic space. For ordinary citizens, it signals a high risk of localized disruptions and economic standstills, particularly in key economic hubs like Nairobi. Ultimately, Gachagua’s intervention underscores a broader strategic pivot among opposition figures, who are increasingly urging the youth to transition from high-risk street activism toward long-term electoral organizing.
All eyes now turn to Thursday, June 25, to see whether youth organizers will heed Gachagua’s call for a stay-at-home strike or proceed with their planned commemorative marches. Security deployments across the targeted counties are expected to intensify significantly as police enforce the state’s protest ban. Meanwhile, civil society watchdogs and political analysts will be monitoring the situation closely to verify the former Deputy President’s explosive allegations regarding the diversion of public security funds
