Activist Roseline Alionya has revealed she gets money from her political party, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Speaking to a local TV station on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Alionya also went on to defend the Finance Bill 2026 as people-centred and laid an accusing finger at fellow activist Allan Ademba.

Alionya, who is the Chairperson of the Young Captains in ODM, accused activists of misleading Kenyans into joining protests on Thursday, June 25, 2026, so that they could allegedly benefit from donor funding.

Her remarks came during a televised debate ahead of planned nationwide demonstrations marking one year since the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.

ODM support

Alionya openly stated that ODM provides her with financial support.

“Mimi chama inaniokolea; sitakudanganya. Chama inanisaidia, chama changu cha ODM,” she said.

She also urged young people to avoid participating in street protests, arguing that some activists were benefiting while ordinary protesters bore the risks.

“Young people at home, don’t die for activists like Ademba to earn. Young people at home don’t die for activists like Boniface Mwangi to take a flight to Europe. Kesho andamana kwa nyumba,” she said.

Alionya did not provide evidence to support her claims that activists earn money from protests or donor funding.

Finance Bill 2026

The ODM activist strongly defended the Finance Bill 2026, saying it had been misunderstood by many Kenyans because of misinformation.

According to Alionya, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi’s public engagements across the country helped explain the contents of the bill and convinced her that it was beneficial.

“The Finance Bill is so nice,” she said, adding that if the government had not carried out grassroots public education, she too would have joined demonstrations.

She claimed opposition leaders had spread misleading information about the proposed law.

“Kalonzo told us your land is going to be converted into something else. People from the opposition told us your M-Pesa is being taxed.

“If the Treasury CS had not gone to the grassroots to explain the Finance Bill, hata mimi ningekuwa maandamano.”

The Finance Bill 2026 has generated public debate, with supporters arguing it seeks to raise government revenue while opponents have expressed concerns over some proposed tax measures and their impact on the cost of living.

Baba criticism

Alionya also questioned criticism directed at the late opposition leader Raila Odinga after he agreed to work with President William Ruto’s administration.

She argued that many young Kenyans quickly accused Raila of betraying Gen Z despite him not being their elected leader.

“Why is it that when Baba joined the government, Gen Zs were very fast to tell him he had betrayed them if he was not their leader? That is an honest conversation we never have.”

She further urged Kenyans to prioritise voting during elections instead of relying solely on street protests.

“Watu wachukue kura waache kuenda maandamano.”

Allan Ademba responds

Responding during the same discussion, activist Allan Ademba defended planned demonstrations, saying peaceful protests remain a constitutional right but should be accompanied by broader civic engagement.

“Tomorrow, Kenyans are going to the streets to exercise their rights.

However, demonstrations and protests alone are not enough. We need systems, young people to be in political parties, civic education to bring change.”

He argued that meaningful reforms require sustained civic participation beyond street protests.

Protest deaths

Ademba also challenged Alionya over the deaths recorded during recent demonstrations.

He said more than 60 people had reportedly died during the 2024 and 2025 protests and questioned who was responsible for the fatalities.

“It is a fact that we lost over 60 people in the 2024-2025 protests. We came to the streets. Tell me one person who was killed by the protesters but not the state.

“I would want to know from you who kills the protesters. Is it the protesters killing themselves or is it the state killing the protesters? Is there a single case where we have seen protesters killing protesters?”

Human rights organisations have previously reported dozens of deaths linked to the 2024 and 2025 anti-government demonstrations and have called for independent investigations into the use of force during protests.

Kenyan authorities have maintained that security agencies operate within the law, while investigations into several protest-related deaths have continued.