Saboti MP Caleb Amisi urges govt to engage youth after deadly protests
By Ascah Mwango, June 26, 2025Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has called on the government to engage Kenya’s youth in meaningful dialogue, following deadly protests held across the country on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
The demonstrations, dubbed the Gen Z Memorial Protests, were organised to honour victims of last year’s anti-tax demonstrations, many of whom were either killed or disappeared.
In a strongly worded statement shared via his X account on Thursday, June 26, Amisi warned the government against antagonising young people. He said the state cannot win a war against its youth, who he described as charismatic, innovative, fearless, smart, and knowledgeable.
He urged authorities to listen to the concerns being raised before the situation deteriorates further. According to Amisi, the continued crackdown on young people through abductions, killings, and violent dispersals is only worsening an already volatile situation.
He cautioned that a nation on a downward spiral can never recover without external intervention, likening Kenya’s situation to post-World War II Europe, which was rebuilt through the Marshall Plan.
“You can never win a war against the youth of a nation. Every day, youth are being born; charismatic, innovative, fearless, smart, and knowledgeable. The state needs to address issues being raised by youth before it is too late,” he said.
Adding;
“Chasing them around, abducting and killing is only adding salt to an injury. When a nation takes on a downward voyage, it will never recover unless there is a reconstruction program from external sources akin to post post-World War II EUROPEAN Marshall Plan.”
Chaos and losses
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, young Kenyans poured into the streets of major cities, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Kisii, demanding justice, accountability, and leadership change.
In Nairobi, protestors marched along key roads such as Moi Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue, Harambee Avenue, and City Hall Way. Many held candlelight vigils outside Parliament and State House, while chanting slogans like “Bado Mapambano”, “Ruto Must Go”, and “Wantam”.
Police officers started dispersing the crowds using tear gas, especially along Kenyatta Avenue and Kimathi Street. This sudden turn of events forced shops and businesses in the central business district to shut down, grounding public transport and bringing the city to a standstill.
demonstrators at Parliament Buildings. PHOTO/Francis Githinji
Videos in the media and on the internet captured harrowing scenes of chaos, as officers beat protestors and targeted journalists, with some videos showing tear gas being lobbed into crowds without provocation.
Human rights organisations and civil society groups have since condemned the excessive use of force by police. They accuse law enforcement of firing rubber bullets, tear gas, and in some cases, live ammunition at unarmed demonstrators.
So far, eight people have been confirmed dead and many others injured.
Families of the victims, together with civil society actors, are demanding answers and accountability from both the police and the national leadership. Calls for an independent investigation and reform in law enforcement have gained traction both locally and internationally.
Businesses were also heavily affected by the protests. In the chaos that unfolded, many shops were vandalised or looted, with business owners incurring significant financial losses. S
Several traders in Nairobi’s CBD said they had barely recovered from previous protests, and now face yet another economic blow.