The Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has issued a powerful statement in support of the nationwide Gen Z-led protests, calling on the government to listen to the voices of young Kenyans and urging security forces to exercise restraint.

Matiang’i’s statement adds to the growing chorus of voices urging the Kenyan government to embrace dialogue, de-escalate tensions, and allow young people to engage meaningfully in shaping the country’s future.

The protests, which have erupted in cities and towns across Kenya, mark the first anniversary of the deadly June 25, 2024 demonstrations, during which several young protesters lost their lives while opposing the Finance Bill 2024 and other government policies seen as punitive and unjust.

“Thousands of young people have today gathered in cities and towns across Kenya to mark the tragic events of June 25, 2024, and to honour the memory of the Gen Z protesters who lost their lives during that time,” Matiang’i said in his statement released Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

He acknowledged the frustrations behind the protests, saying the youth were raising legitimate concerns.

“Protestors last year were voicing concerns over the Finance Bill 2024, punitive tax policies, the mismanagement of public resources, reduced government funding to universities, and broader issues of governance,” he noted.

Matiangi’s voice on protests

 Matiang’i expressed his solidarity with the protesters, describing them as young active citizens exercising their constitutional right to petition authorities.

“I fully associate myself with the sentiments that they expressed,” he affirmed.

In a firm yet compassionate appeal, the former minister called on the current administration to listen carefully and sincerely to the grievances being raised, rather than responding with force or indifference.

 “I urge the government not to harden its heart but to genuinely listen to the citizens’ cry for justice and reform,” Matiang’i urged.

He directed a special plea to the country’s security services, who have been heavily deployed during the protests, asking them to act with professionalism and empathy.

 “I also make a heartfelt plea to our security officers: please do not turn your weapons on your fellow citizens, exercise restraint and sobriety. Do not meet peaceful protests with force,” he said.

Matiang’i warned that a heavy-handed approach would only worsen the situation and heighten tensions nationwide.

“It is only through dialogue and a genuine willingness to listen that we will find a path to peaceful resolution of grievances and the restoration of calm in our beloved nation,” he said.

“Use of force by the authorities will only deepen the crisis and push the country down a dangerous and slippery slope.”

The former CS also offered his condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in the course of these protests.

“My deepest sympathies go out to the families who have lost their loved ones over the last year under these tragic and unfortunate circumstances,” he said.

He called for a unified national response to the ongoing crisis—one that transcends political divisions and generational gaps.

“Regardless of our political affiliations or the divides that exist among us, this is a time to pull together and reflect deeply on the foundations of our nation,” he said.

“We must come together across party lines and generations, to fix what is broken and build a future that is just, accountable, and inclusive.”