The former Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Wilson Sossion, has sounded the alarm over the escalating political unrest in the country, urging the government to address the deeper causes of the ongoing protests before they spiral into full-blown anarchy.

In an interview with a local TV station on Thursday, June 19, 2025, Sossion asserted that the ongoing demonstrations, which have seen widespread violence and destruction, are not a spontaneous public outcry but are politically motivated.

 He also pointed out that the leader of these protests remains elusive, further complicating the government’s response to the unrest.

“President Ruto does not convene demonstrations, and the leader of the protests remains unknown,” Sossion remarked.

 “Goons loot and destroy property, leaving the police in a very complicated position.”

He cautioned that as long as the protests are driven by political motivations, they will inevitably lead to violence.

 “As long as the next demonstrations are politically motivated, there will be violence,” Sossion explained.

 “A Governor is elected to lead the welfare of the county and should be included in security matters. If not, we will continue to have problems.”

The former KNUT leader also raised concerns about the preparedness of the police to handle such politically charged demonstrations, especially given the increasingly violent nature of the protests.

“Are the police dealing with ordinary demonstrations? No, they are dealing with political demonstrations whose front line is violence,” he said. “Have we prepared our police with the capacity to handle and manage such demonstrations?

Constructive political climate

Sossion went on to suggest that there needs to be a concerted effort to address the growing culture of hate and incitement in the country, calling for a shift toward a more optimistic and constructive political climate.

“Some counselling needs to be applied to those trying to advance a politics and culture of hate and incitement. We need to practice optimism,” he urged.

Looking ahead, Sossion warned that without clear protocols on how demonstrations should be conducted, Kenya risks descending into political chaos.

He called for a more coordinated approach to managing protests, which involves local leaders like County Chiefs and highlights the growing concern that the current system is ill-equipped to manage the political tensions brewing in the country.

“Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja should issue protocols on how demonstrations will be conducted during the Gen Z anniversary,” he advised. “Short of that, we should prepare for political anarchy, not civil protests,” he appealed.