Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has led opposition leaders in Nairobi in remembrance of the Gen Zs who died on June 25, ahead of a planned wreath-laying ceremony.
The opposition leaders walked to Parliament Road to lay wreaths and light candles in honour of the Gen Z protesters who lost their lives during the 2024 demonstrations.
Addressing the media, Kalonzo said the move is to pay tribute to the fallen youth by laying flowers at the scene where he claims dozens of young people were killed.
“Today, we just want to remember these young people. We intend to lay wreaths in their memory,” Kalonzo said.
“Even if we are denied access to Parliament today, this day must be properly commemorated as a national holiday in the future.”
The leaders managed to lay the wreaths of flowers at the razor wire barricade since the police had cordoned off Parliament.
The former Vice President praised Kenyans for allegedly choosing to stay at home on June 25 in honour of those who died during last year’s Gen Z protests.
“A lot of Kenyans have chosen to stay at home in sympathy with the June 2024 deaths. It truly feels like a public holiday—there are barricades everywhere,” Kalonzo said.
It remains unclear whether opposition leaders will be allowed to proceed with the ceremony, as police have sealed off all roads leading to Parliament Square and erected razor wire barricades ahead of the planned protests.
Police have intensified operations and blocked major roads leading to Parliament in a bid to prevent demonstrators from accessing the legislature.
Last year, thousands of protesters stormed Parliament in a historic act that caught security officers off guard, after Gen Z demonstrators overpowered them.
Protesters helped themselves to lunch at the MPs’ canteen and
occupied the National Assembly Chambers—an incident that resulted in the deaths
of several Gen Zs.
However, National Assembly Deputy Minority Leader Robert Mbui said Kenyans have a right to visit Parliament at any time without restrictions.
“Parliament can be visited by any citizen—even the State House can be visited by any citizen,” Mbui said.
