Blame game as State sees coup where opposition sees youth revolt

The government has claimed there was an attempted coup on Wednesday, and that the Gen Z demonstrators—more than 70 of whom have lost their lives—are merely pawns on the chessboard of unseen masterminds.

However, opposition leaders have dismissed this narrative as a deliberate attempt by the State to trivialise and delegitimise genuine protests.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and their allies have accused the State of orchestrating chaos during the first anniversary of the Gen Z protests. They have also denied any involvement in the mobilisation, financing or transportation of demonstrators.

Gachagua, who had earlier been accused by allied MPs of financing the protests, redirected the accusations toward President William Ruto’s administration, alleging that government officials had infiltrated the protests by hiring thugs to loot and destroy property.

In a strongly worded statement,  Gachagua claimed he possessed credible intelligence that the violence had been coordinated by politicians aligned with the government, working in collaboration with members of the National Police Service and the Nairobi County Government. 

“Mr Ruto, you are well aware that under your instructions, genuine Gen-Z protestors were blocked in their thousands on Kiambu road and Thika road where no businesses were looted. Your police allowed goons into town at their expense to go and cause mayhem and place the blame on the Gen Zs,” stated Gachagua.

“In cahoots with the police, these rogue officials and politicians led goons for a targeted looting spree to intimidate and coerce them to support this unpopular regime. We are well aware that most of the businesses were left that Wednesday evening only to be found looted in the morning,” he added.

The former ally-turned-critic also dismissed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s claim  that he was behind an attempted coup.

“We have listened to a misinformed statement from Interior CS Mr Murkomen profiling the Kikuyu community and alleging that this was a Kikuyu uprising. Yet he knows very well that the Gen Zs are protesting against corruption, extrajudicial killings, abductions and general lawlessness. This is not the first time Mr Murkomen has made such a reckless statement,” he said.

“We have also witnessed futile and insensitive attempts by government propagandists to peddle outdated narratives blaming patriotic politicians who have stood with the people. Please, give us a break.”

Former Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter echoed these sentiments on X, posting: “The tribal narrative is not working. Try another tactic. Even the Kalenjin are part of the revolution—and they too are crying, ‘Ruto must go.’ Stop crying more than the bereaved.”

Leading the charge against the protests was Interior CS Murkomen, who, in a press briefing on the steps of Harambee House, characterised the events of June 25, as a well-orchestrated attempt to overthrow the government.

“Yesterday, police foiled an attempted coup. The demos had nothing to do with protests or freedom of expression. It was an unconstitutional attempt to change the government of the day,” he said

The allegations

Murkomen described the chaos as an act of terrorism, claiming it was politically motivated, meticulously executed, and heavily funded. “We did not witness peaceful protests. What we saw were acts of terrorism—deliberate and funded,” he added.

He confirmed that 10 people were killed and over 400 injured, including 300 police officers. Nine police stations were attacked—five of them set ablaze—while 88 police vehicles, 28 government cars, and 65 private vehicles, including a school bus, were destroyed.

He further alleged that the homes and businesses of government-aligned politicians were specifically targeted, naming MPs Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), Kimani Kuria (Molo), Eric wa Mumbi (Mathira), Njoroge Wainaina (Kieni), Bernard Muriuki (Mbeere North), and Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East).

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki joined the government’s condemnation of the protests, blaming religious leaders and the diplomatic community for inciting the youth.

“I ask the church, diplomats and political leaders whose words incited young people—was this the outcome they desired? The looting, destruction and violence? Wednesday was the most anarchic day in this country’s history,” he declared, incredulous over reports that police stations had been raided for firearms.

But Wiper party MPs, during a press conference within the precincts of Parliament accused the State of employing diversionary tactics and politicizing the plight of youth.

Deputy Minority Leader and Kathiani MP Robert Mbui led the call for accountability, urging the administration to stop finger-pointing and confront the pressing issue of youth unemployment.

“Instead of name-calling, this regime must reduce the lies, make proper plans, and address the crisis of youth joblessness that lies at the heart of these demonstrations,” said Mbui.

“If you do not listen to these highly educated and disenfranchised youth, and continue using force to silence them, how will you address their concerns. It’s not about the political class, it’s not about Gachagua or Kalonzo, David Maraga or Fred Matiangi or us as elected leaders but it is about the future of Kenya which is vested heavily in our youth,” Mbui emphasised.

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo warned that reckless official rhetoric was only stoking fear and instability. “When you say, ‘shoot and kill if someone is robbed,’ how do you expect people to report crimes?” he asked. “There have been careless remarks about power retention—like ‘no president has ever served just one term’—and that this regime will secure a second term by whatever means. These are dangerous sentiments,” Maanzo cautioned.

In a day marked by widespread public defiance commemorating the victims of last year’s protests and recent abductions, key state actors—from the Executive and Parliament to aligned politicians— all stuck to what was presumably a premeditated narrative to pile ‘their woes’ on the opposition which has been relenting in their calls to have the current administration vacate office.

Gachagua, Kalonzo, and DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa bore the brunt of these accusations. The church and civil society were also targeted for their support of the nationwide youth-led movement.

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli waded into the fray, questioning the opposition’s readiness to govern, even if President Ruto were to step down.

“People are calling for Ruto to go, but who in the opposition is ready to take over—Wamunyoro, Kalonzo, Maraga, or Matiang’i?” he posed.

“These protests are no longer in Gen Z’s hands. They’ve been hijacked by politicians who were once in government. Investors are now fleeing. We are losing out. I urge the government to take firm action and restore order,” Atwoli added.

It was, however, the so-called broad-based, government-allied MPs who led the charge in pinning blame on Gachagua and the opposition for allegedly funding the unrest.

During a heated session in Parliament on Thursday, legislators passed a motion calling on the Inspector-General of Police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to investigate the lawlessness witnessed on Wednesday.

The motion

Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, who tabled the motion, demanded Gachagua’s arrest, and also called for probes into Embakasi North MP John Gakuya, Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru (Mejjadonk), and Senator Maanzo for allegedly mobilising protestors in the capital.

“What happened yesterday in our country was not a Gen-Z demonstration. It was a political event that was meant to overthrow the Constitution and the existing governance of this country,” said Junet.

“...There was destruction of property in Nyeri, Nyandarua, Kikuyu and Nyamakima. That tells you who the chief goon is—Mr Gachagua.”

Kitutu Chace South MP Anthony Kibagendi faulted his colleagues for reducing the youth-led protests to a Gachagua issue, and accused the government of using himas a scapegoat.

“We must stop trivialising the concerns of young people in this country and avoid reducing them to a ‘Gachagua issue.’ Kenyans demonstrated across the country, and it is because of these genuine concerns that we must rise up and take action to support these young people. I am perturbed by what Hon. Farah Maalim, the Deputy Speaker, and others have said about the former Deputy President, it is irresponsible,” stated Kibagendi.

“Gachagua is such a small player in all this. Did he organize the protests in Mombasa, Kisii, and Kericho? If you believe he broke the law, why not have him arrested? Deal with Gachagua in accordance with the law, instead of using him as a scapegoat,” he added.