Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has lambasted those planning to take part in street demonstrations, asserting that his community will no longer be drawn into such activities.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Thursday, June 19, 2025, Kaluma emphasised a shift in focus for his people, indicating that their priorities had changed now that they were part of the government.
The vocal legislator expressed frustration over what he termed as the exploitation of his community in past struggles, noting that they had spent decades on the frontlines of political activism and resistance, often at great personal cost.
According to Kaluma, his people have paid their dues, having participated in countless demonstrations throughout Kenya’s post-independence history in pursuit of justice and democratic freedoms.
Now, Kaluma said, it was time for them to focus on nation-building and governance rather than continued protest.
He portrayed the demonstrations as unproductive and outdated.
“Our people will not join you in your useless street protests. We have been on the streets, dying for you, since independence. We are in government, busy rebuilding after years of neglect,” he declared.
In a previous post, the lawmaker had warned the youth against being misled by opposition leaders into taking part in demonstrations. He urged them not to be used as pawns, accusing opposition figures of using young people to push political agendas while protecting their children.
In another post, he said some leaders were manipulating the public for donor money, suggesting that they avoid participating in protests while benefiting financially.
“The visionless opposition leaders are inciting other people’s children to head to the streets as they remain behind sharing out donor funding. Did Boniface Mwangi et al enter Parliament that day? He stayed behind and increased his Yayah stock after the protests. Don’t be their donor financing data. Don’t go to the streets unless they lead you, with your children,” Kaluma added.
Kaluma’s remarks come at a time when critics are questioning the silence of Raila Odinga since the Orange Democratic Movement joined forces with President William Ruto’s government. They say, Raila has been notably quiet on key governance issues, even as protests intensify.
Tension
Kaluma’s statement also came amid rising tensions following deadly protests held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. The demonstrations were sparked by the death of digital content creator Albert Ojwang while in police custody.
Many young Kenyans, mainly the youth, took to the streets in Nairobi’s CBD demanding justice.
The protests, which started peacefully, later turned violent. Reports emerged of looting, clashes with police, and the involvement of hired goons. One of the most disturbing moments was the shooting of an unarmed hawker by police officers, an incident caught on video and condemned widely across the country.
Attention is now shifting to the planned Gen Z memorial protests set for Tuesday, June 25, 2025. The demonstrations will mark one year since the 2024 Finance Bill protests, during which more than 60 people died and Parliament was stormed by angry protesters. That pressure eventually forced the government to withdraw the bill.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday evening, Nairobi Regional Police Commander George Seda said the police had received formal notification of the upcoming protest and were preparing to provide adequate security.
“For June 25, we have got what we call the enhanced plan for that; the letter which was delivered to central, we have the copy,” Seda said.
He reassured the public that safety would be a top priority for both protesters and those not taking part in the demonstrations.
“We will provide enough security to ensure every person who is going to participate, and even those who are not participating, is safe.”
Seda encouraged peaceful protests and asked demonstrators not to disrupt other people’s daily activities, especially since the protests fall on a weekday.
“What I would like to urge the public is to let us restrict ourselves to peaceful demonstrations; let us not have demonstrations which are going to interfere with the other people who may not be part of the demonstrators,” he added.
He also reminded the public that previous protests had turned violent after some individuals provoked police officers, which he warned could lead to unnecessary confrontations.
“It will be a working day. We shall be having other people operating shops, hotels and even others at the bus stations. We are looking more uncivilised when we start converging, and then as we continue, it turns violent, and it loses the logic of conducting it,” he said.
