June 25 anniversary: How the Gen Z-led 2024 protests changed the political landscape

Protesters and some of the survivors have intimated that they will conduct a nationwide candlelighting ceremony to honour the fallen Gen Z heroes.

President William Ruto has, however, cautioned against any form of chaos, destruction of property, or disruption of essential services ahead of next week’s anniversary of the June 25 anti-government protests.

“We are a country that believes viciously in order, we are a civilised nation, we are an organised society, we believe in the rule of law,” Ruto said during the National Productivity and Performance Conference at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi on June 19.

“The one thing that is not going to happen is that people will be mobilised to destroy property or to cause chaos or mayhem. That will not happen,” he stated.

His call has been echoed by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen, the Ministry's Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo and a section of the national clergy.

Political grooming

The June 25, 2024, protests, which saw Kenya's parliament breached, have been portrayed as the bellwether of an indelible shift in the nation's political grooming.

Kenyan youth, mostly the Gen Zs, protested a Finance Bill that proposed excessive taxes, agitating for political etiquette and even the removal of President Ruto and other leaders.

The move ruffled the government, forcing the withdrawal of the Bill in totality, as the protesters were branded "terrorists".

As the national upheaval hushed up, political leaders became alive to an explicit and inescapable fact — Kenyan politics is no longer regular work. More is demanded from them.

Political blowhards learned very quickly that their swellhead tendencies were taboo to the public eye, and their intellectual input was being interrogated.

They immediately stopped crowing about their infant-stage, questionably acquired wealth and clammed up.

President Ruto's administration has also bowed to the pressure of elucidating every move it makes, be it introducing new laws or projects.

Recently, in the build-up to the assent of the Finance Bill 2026, Treasury CS John Mbadi maintained a spirited mission to demystify all rumours surrounding the Bill.

This nail-biting has been seen in previous contentious national matters, among them the monthly fuel price reviews, the establishment of an Ebola facility in Nanyuki, Laikipia County.

"Those questioning our preparedness, are they telling us that we should not be ready? The fact that we could end up with a case is not far-fetched. We have many Kenyans in DRC, and if they were to become victims of Ebola, we would have a responsibility to take care of them," President Ruto said on June 2 amid a heightened public uproar.

"We are a responsible government. Politicians should avoid reckless talk. I am confident about what we are doing as a country."

Sober political party

A stark partitioning of political factions has also resulted from the need to find a Gen-Z-relatable political ship, as many youths have distanced themselves from the old guard.

The broad-based government, pioneered by President Ruto and the late Raila Odinga, has long been branded an unpopular political team, and the United Opposition has endeavoured to win the youth's admiration by launching a nationwide charm offensive to be the preferred team.

The tiff to be desirable birthed the Linda Mwananchi faction led by the youth's fair-haired Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino.

Linda Mwananchi has positioned itself as a forward-thinking political juggernaut that plans to revolutionise Kenyan politics by instilling sobriety in governance. 

Police have said they have not received any formal notification for the planned commemoration of the protests, warning that any criminal elements will be dealt with firmly.

Nairobi Regional Commander Issa Mohamoud said law enforcement agencies are not aware of any planned gathering in the city.

"We have not received any formal notification so far. Hence, we are not aware of the alleged commemoration. We do not expect any gathering in Nairobi tomorrow," Mohamoud said.

As the nation gears up for the 2027 General Election, political aspirants remain jittery about how they will stage a campaign to win the voters, mostly comprising the youth.

They will also need to recalibrate their manifestos to meet the demand of clear-headed leadership.

Meanwhile, the government has officially commenced compensation for victims of human rights violations, including those arising from demonstrations and public protests between 2013 and 2025, with 348 verified victims set to receive a total of Ksh.448.7 million in the first phase of the programme.