Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) Party leader Eugene Wamalwa has expressed fears of a plan to deploy the military to attempt to restore order in the protests by the Gen Zs.
Speaking in Karen on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Wamalwa castigated a directive by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) calling for a stop to the live TV and radio broadcast of the protest.
In his statement, Wamalwa says the blackout would be used to covertly deploy the military on citizens, just as the government justified the use of military in the 2024 protests.
Reason for live coverage ban
“There is a reason why William Ruto wants this blackout, and Kenyans are following everything that is happening across the country,” Wamalwa stated.
“People have come out from every corner of this country to reject this system and injustices, but when you see what he is trying to do,” he observed.
“I think William Ruto wants to unleash the military on the citizens. As we speak, we are aware that the military is positioned around Nyayo Stadium, and a time is coming when we have this blackout, then he could unleash the military,” Wamalwa stated.
“He is still using the same orders of last year that give him the power to deploy.”
2024 military deployment
Following the June 25, 2024, protests, which culminated in the breaching of Parliament Buildings, the High Court allowed the deployment of the military to protect critical government infrastructure.
However, Justice Lawrence Mugambi ordered that such a deployment would have to be restricted to certain terms and duration of engagement to avoid militarisation of the state.
“To deploy the military in a blanket manner without defining their scope of operation and the duration of their operation is a dangerous trend that can bring about militarisation of the country,” Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled on June 28, 2024.
The demonstrations have rocked major towns in the country to commemorate the lives of 60 youthful Kenyans who lost their lives in 2024 during the Finance Bill demos, which later morphed into protests against misgovernance.
Several notable individuals, including former Chief Justice David Maraga, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-K Party leader Eugene Wamalwa and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, have joined in the protests.
