Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has encouraged Kenyan youth to push for good governance, social justice, and economic progress without fear or intimidation ahead of the highly anticipated Gen Z memorial protests set for Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
In a message shared on his X account on Sunday, June 22, 2025, Amisi emphasised that the youth have a vital role to play in shaping the future of the country.
He urged them to remain bold in their demands for justice, while calling on authorities to respond with openness rather than hostility.
“The youth must demand good governance, social justice, and economic development of their nation. This should not come with intimidation but accommodation,” Amisi stated.
Police brutality
His remarks come at a time when public anger is rising over recent cases of police brutality and misconduct. Tensions have escalated across the country, particularly after the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody on June 8, 2025, at the Central Police Station in Nairobi.
Ojwang had been arrested in Homa Bay County two days earlier for allegedly defaming Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat. When his body was found, it bore signs of torture, including a broken jaw. While police claimed he had taken his own life, an independent autopsy revealed injuries consistent with physical abuse.
Public outcry over the incident led to protests and the arrest of two police officers, Samson Talam and James Mukhwana. A technician suspected of tampering with the station’s CCTV footage was also taken in for questioning.
Deputy Inspector General Lagat, whose complaint initiated Ojwang’s arrest, stepped aside to allow investigations to proceed.
Another incident further inflamed public emotions. On June 17, during protests in Nairobi, 22-year-old street vendor Boniface Kariuki was shot in the head by a police officer. A widely shared video showed Kariuki walking away peacefully, unarmed, before an officer opened fire.
He was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Following this, two officers identified as Klinzy or Barasa and Duncan Kiprono were arrested. They appeared in court as investigations continue, with detectives granted 15 days to conclude their inquiries.
These incidents add to a disturbing trend of violence by law enforcement. During the anti-Finance Bill protests in June 2024, at least 19 people were killed and over 200 were injured. According to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), over 20 people have died in police custody in just the past four months.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has also condemned the police for frequently releasing misleading or false reports, especially in high-profile cases.
June 25
As the country prepares for the Gen Z memorial protests, all eyes are on what will happen on June 25, 2025. The day marks one year since deadly demonstrations against the 2024 Finance Bill, during which more than 60 people lost their lives and protesters briefly occupied Parliament. The bill was eventually withdrawn after the public outcry.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander George Seda assured the public that security would be provided during the upcoming protests. He confirmed that the police have officially received notification of the planned demonstrations and have put enhanced measures in place to protect both participants and bystanders.
“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.
“We will provide enough security to ensure every person who is going to participate, and even those who are not participating, is safe.”
Seda called on protestors to remain peaceful and avoid disrupting daily activities for others. He reminded the public that the day falls on a weekday, when many people will be working or running businesses. He stressed that violence or chaos would only undermine the purpose of the memorial and make the protests appear uncivilised.
“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 stated.
He also raised concerns about protestors who have previously provoked police officers, cautioning that law enforcement is not seeking conflict with the public, but is focused on ensuring safety for everyone involved.
“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 added.
Adding;
“Some protestors go to rough up officers who are armed provocatively, we are not there to be at war with the public; we are just there to provide safety.”
