Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has announced that opposition supporters will return to the streets on June 25, 2026, to commemorate young people killed during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests and to oppose new government policies, including the Finance Bill 2026/27.
Speaking in Thika on Saturday, May 23, 2026, Kalonzo said the planned demonstrations would serve a dual purpose: remembering what he called “Gen Z victims” of state violence and pushing back against economic policies he argues will deepen the financial strain on ordinary Kenyans.
Kalonzo told supporters that the June 25 gathering would mark the third anniversary of the deaths of young protesters who took part in nationwide demonstrations against rising taxes and the cost of living in 2024.
He accused the government of responding to public dissent with excessive force and said the pattern of lethal crackdowns had to end.
“During the matatu strike, four people were shot dead,” he said. “It’s as if this government has an insatiable appetite for the blood of Kenyans. That must stop.”
The Wiper leader claimed that more than 100 young people had lost their lives in the 2024 protests and in subsequent demonstrations linked to economic grievances. He insisted that families of the victims were still waiting for answers and accountability.
“Next month we will be remembering more than 100 of our young people who were killed by this government,” he said.
Kalonzo described the June 25, 2026 event as a moment of national remembrance, saying the date had become a symbol of sacrifice and resistance for a generation that felt excluded from decision-making.
Opposition to the Finance Bill 2026
The planned protests are also directed at the Finance Bill 2026/27, which is currently undergoing public participation in Parliament. Kalonzo warned that if passed in its present form, the bill would increase the tax burden on households and small businesses at a time when many Kenyans are struggling with high food and fuel prices.
“Next Tuesday these MPs will return to Parliament… if this finance bill is passed, it will be used to finance the next election,” he said. “We have looked at many things in it, and they are designed to hurt citizens.”
He argued that the 2024 protests were driven by frustration over unemployment, heavy taxation, and what he described as systemic corruption and poor governance. Many of the young people who joined the demonstrations, he said, rejected a system they viewed as rigged against them.
“They said they do not want a country that is governed in the open,” he said, referring to allegations of mismanagement and lack of transparency in public affairs.
A Symbolic Date for the Opposition
The opposition has increasingly adopted June 25 as a symbolic date, linking it to the storming of Parliament and the deadly clashes that followed on June 25, 2024. Leaders aligned to Kalonzo have referred to the day as “Gen Z Liberation Day,” using it to push for broader political and economic reforms.
Kalonzo has previously proposed that June 25 be declared a public holiday to honour the youth killed during the protests, calling it a turning point in Kenya’s democratic history.
He told supporters in Thika that the opposition would continue to mobilise against unpopular policies, but emphasized that all actions would remain peaceful and within the law.
The Thika meeting drew a large crowd and carried a strong political tone, with local leaders using the platform to urge unity ahead of the 2027 general elections. Supporters echoed calls for sustained mobilisation and began organizing for upcoming political activities.
The announcement adds to growing political tension as rival camps position themselves for the next electoral cycle. Government officials have not yet responded to Kalonzo’s statement, and police had not issued a statement on security arrangements for the planned protests at the time of publication.
Kalonzo said the opposition would use June 25 to renew demands for accountability, constitutionalism, and policies that prioritize citizens over political interests.
