The Motorists Association of Kenya has dismissed statements by the Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary (CS) Opiyo Wandayi in Kajiado on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
While commissioning the electrification of a school in Kajiado East constituency on June 18, 2025, Wandayi urged the youth to avoid protests, noting that the government had heard their struggles.
However, the Motorists Association notes that the statements are part of a script, given the recent increase in fuel prices, that is set to impact various sectors of the economy and make living more difficult.
Dripping with humility
“When a government’s top minister stands at a podium, dripping with false humility, and tells hungry, overtaxed youth to stop protesting because “we have heard you,” yet in the same breath defends fuel prices that defy global trends and signs off on electricity rates that wring the last shilling from households and businesses, that is not leadership. It is a mockery,” the association said in a statement on June 19, 2025.
“Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi’s hollow appeal that young people should retreat from the streets comes as fuel remains painfully expensive, even though the world market would allow relief at the pump. Meanwhile, electricity bills have ballooned under his watch, pushing small traders, factories, and ordinary families deeper into joblessness and poverty,” the body lamented.
In his address, Wandayi stated that the protesting youth had made their point and that the government would act to address their grievances.
“We have freedoms which are protected by the constitution, but let us not misuse those freedoms to advance some strange agenda,” Wandayi said.
Destructive agenda
“Those who are demonstrating in Nairobi, you have made your point. We have understood your anger about what has happened. But let us not take advantage of such an unfortunate incident to advance an agenda which is destructive to the unity of this country,” he observed.
“I want to appeal to our leaders; let us take care of the children of Kenya. Let us not misuse them to get involved in activities that are detrimental to their welfare We not only want peace, law and order in Nairobi, but everywhere else in the country.”
The Motorists’ Association maintains that the recent wave of protests should continue until the state wakes up to the reality of the struggles that ordinary Kenyans undergo to put food on the table.
“Let no one be fooled by carefully scripted statements. This is not goodwill; it is the cold disdain of a political class that feeds off people’s sweat while pretending to wipe their tears. Ignore this callous plea to halt protests until their actions show respect for the cost of living, not just words crafted to douse anger,” the Association stated.
