Ruto and Raila allies call for restraint during June 25 protests

Allies of President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga have called for restraint and lawful conduct during Gen-Z protests planned for Wednesday.

They warned against the use of goons to disrupt the peaceful demonstrations planned to commemorate anti-government protests outside Parliament in June 2024.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, claimed that allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were sponsoring goons to infiltrate peaceful protests.

Ichung’wah urged Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to take legal action against politicians sponsoring chaos to hijack youth-led movements.

“We will not allow any leader to misuse our children for selfish political gains. The Inspector General must act. Let peaceful protests be peaceful,” Ichung’wah said during a fundraiser for the construction of Sikinga Secondary School in Nambale, Busia County.

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Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot accused opposition leaders of fanning divisions and inflaming tension to destabilise the country.

“What we are seeing is not leadership. It’s manipulation. Let our young people not be used as tools of anarchy by leaders who want to make headlines off their pain,” he said.

Cheruiyot said the work of the police is to arrest any leader who plans protests wherever they go.

“Any leader who plans to cause anarchy, be it the former Deputy President, must be arrested and charged. Do not allow people to infiltrate peaceful demonstrations by bringing in goons,” he said.

President Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet called for the enforcement of protest-related laws.

Speaking in Navakholo, Kibet said that while the Constitution guarantees the right to assemble, it must be exercised within the framework of public order and responsibility.

“Freedom does not mean lawlessness. The law must be followed to the letter; organisers, participants, and even police must all be held accountable. Let us protect both the right to protest and the lives of those protesting,” he said.

He accused political operatives of using the protests to advance chaos and warned that the state would no longer tolerate calculated anarchy masked as activism.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula urged leaders to embrace dialogue and lower the political temperature.

He said Kenya was going through a sensitive moment and that national unity must take priority.

“We must stop this cycle of provocation and confrontation. Politics should be about ideas, not incitement. Let us lead by example and guide our youth toward constructive engagement,” said Wetang’ula.

Migori Senator Eddy Oketch and Dagoreti North MP Beatrice Elachi called on the protestors to present their agenda devoid of violence.

"Our demonstrations used to have peaceful and with an agenda. You don't just go on the streets without an agenda, only to cause violence," said Oketch.