Caleb Amisi backs Gachagua’s appeal for Gen Z to call off June 25 protests
By Mustafa Juma, June 24, 2026Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi has backed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s call for Gen Z to reconsider the planned June 25 demonstrations.
Taking to his official social media accounts on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Amisi argued that the opposition must avoid playing into what he described as the government’s preferred terrain of confrontation.
He said he agreed with Gachagua’s position, warning that protests could expose young people to violence and unnecessary loss of life.
“I agree with Rigathi Gachagua. Do not play into government hands of killing protesters,” Amisi stated.
“At last someone is being smart on Ruto. Removing Ruto needs not only shouting in rallies but brains as well.”
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislator further argued that political change requires strategic thinking rather than emotional reactions.
“Most of us are too emotional to use brains and therefore leading people to his comfort zone. Kenya needs a renaissance,” he added.
Gachagua urges Gen Z to stay away
Amisi’s remarks came shortly after Gachagua appealed to Gen Z activists to call off the planned June 25 demonstrations, citing security concerns and the possibility of violence. According to the former deputy president, preserving lives should take precedence over street protests.
Gachagua argued that young people would play a crucial role in shaping Kenya’s political future through the ballot and should not expose themselves to what he claimed could be a dangerous environment. He framed the move as a tactical retreat rather than surrender, saying strategy should not be confused with cowardice.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader further claimed that criminal elements could infiltrate the demonstrations and trigger violence, claims that government officials have rejected.
Shift from earlier support
Gachagua’s latest position has drawn attention because it appears to differ from his previous support for Gen Z’s right to protest.
In recent months, the former deputy president had publicly aligned himself with calls for accountability and justice arising from youth-led demonstrations. However, he now says the risks surrounding the June 25 events outweigh the potential benefits of taking to the streets.
His concerns have centred on fears that violence, criminal infiltration and confrontations with security agencies could overshadow the commemorative nature of the event.
Significance of June 25
The planned demonstrations are intended to mark the anniversary of the June 25, 2024 protests, when thousands of young Kenyans mobilised against the Finance Bill and broader concerns over governance, corruption and the cost of living. The protests culminated in the storming of Parliament and eventually forced President William Ruto to withdraw the controversial Finance Bill.
The Gen Z movement, largely organised through social media and operating outside traditional political structures, transformed Kenya’s political landscape and became a symbol of youth activism.
Many activists view June 25 as a day of remembrance for those who lost their lives during the demonstrations and subsequent unrest, while also renewing calls for accountability and reforms.
Divided views over the commemoration
While some political leaders and civil society groups have encouraged participation in memorial activities, others have urged caution.
Gachagua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka previously called for June 25 to be observed as a symbolic day of remembrance for Gen Z protesters, urging Kenyans to honour those who died during the 2024 demonstrations.
However, the former deputy president’s latest appeal for demonstrators to stay away from the streets has sparked debate within opposition circles, with some activists insisting that peaceful protest remains a constitutional right and a legitimate avenue for expressing grievances.