Gachagua commends Gen Z protest anniversary, calls for change
By Emmanuel Rono, June 26, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on the electorate to pursue political change through the ballot, stating that the country’s future should be determined through constitutional means rather than violence.
In a statement on Thursday, June 25, 2026, Gachagua urged Kenyans to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election, maintaining that the vote is the avenue through which citizens can liberate the country.
“I plead with the people of Kenya to stay alive, stay safe and register as voters, for we all have a date with destiny to liberate our country on August 10, next year. We shall liberate our country through the mechanism provided for by our Constitution; the ballot,” he said.
Democratic rights
Gachagua described the June 25 protests as a legitimate exercise of democratic rights, arguing that the young people who took part should not be regarded as criminals.
He paid tribute to those who lost their lives during the demonstrations and subsequent protests in June 2025 and the Saba Saba protests, alleging that police brutality and state-sponsored militias were responsible for the deaths.
He commended the protestors for conducting a peaceful protest during the second anniversary of the GenZ on Thursday, June 25.
“I sincerely thank my dear sons and daughters, the GenZs, for heeding my plea to avoid death and injury. They had planned to harm you on a big magnitude today,” Gachagua stated.
He further commended police officers who exercised restraint during the demonstrations and urged members of the security services to reject unlawful orders and avoid using excessive force against protesters.
Gen Z protest conduct
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has praised Kenyans for maintaining peace during the June 25 anniversary demonstrations, revealing that the country recorded no widespread cases of looting, vandalism, skirmishes or injuries despite nationwide protests held to commemorate the 2024 Gen Z uprising.
In an update on the country’s security situation issued on Thursday, June 25, 2026, Murkomen said citizens responded positively to the government’s appeal for calm, allowing the demonstrations to proceed peacefully while normal activities continued in most parts of the country.
“I would like to commend all Kenyans for heeding the Government’s call to maintain peace and go about their daily activities today. I also wish to report that no widespread cases of looting, vandalism, skirmishes, or injuries were reported in the country,” Murkomen said