As Kenyans prepare to mark 2025 Saba Saba, prominent lawyer Willis Otieno has come out guns blazing against the proposed anti-protest bill sponsored by Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris.
Otieno has warned the political elite that youth resistance is not only rising, it’s unstoppable.
“We shall make this country ungovernable,” Otieno declared in a fiery statement on his official X account on Sunday, July 6, 2025, aligning himself with the growing tide of youth-led protests across the nation.
“There will be no peace for looters, no hiding place for cowards in suits.”
Otieno condemned attempts to criminalise dissent, accusing the government of weaponising the law to stifle legitimate democratic expression.
“You may summon handcuffs, threats, and terrorism charges, but you cannot arrest courage. Kenyan youth are not terrorists; they’re taxpayers, truth-tellers, and time bombs,” the statement read.
The Anti-Protest Bill, which proposes harsh penalties for organising or participating in demonstrations without police approval, has sparked intense criticism from civil society and rights groups.
Desperation to silence unrest?
Otieno dismissed it as a desperate move to silence the growing unrest triggered by rising living costs, systemic corruption, and impunity among public officials.
“You cannot hand over the future to thieves and then expect silence from those you’ve robbed,” he charged, framing the bill as an attack on the very spirit of the 2010 Constitution, which guarantees the right to assembly and expression.
Taking direct aim at the political class, Otieno warned of inevitable consequences if leaders continue to suppress the voices of ordinary citizens:
“If you sit at the table of corruption, you will choke on the spoils. If you wear power like a crown, expect it to burn like iron. Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable. This is the beginning of consequences,” he said.
He insisted that the attempt to outlaw public dissent is not only unconstitutional but also futile in the face of a politically awakened generation.
“You can criminalise our protests, but you can’t bury the Constitution, and you sure as hell can’t kill the heartbeat of millions who have nothing left to lose,” Otieno said, calling on the youth to remain defiant in the face of state intimidation.
About Passaris’ controversial bill, which seeks to introduce stiff penalties for unauthorised demonstrations, Otieno insisted that suppressing protests would not silence the frustrations of the youth:
“We are not going to ask for permission to demand justice. We are not guests in our own country,” he added in a follow-up comment on his X account.
With the Saba Saba demonstrations in the offing, Otieno’s echoes a deep national anger over economic hardship, corruption, and perceived betrayal by elected leaders. He ended with a stark warning:
“You can’t hand over the future to thieves and then expect silence from those you’ve robbed,” read the statement.
