Nairobi, 26 June 2025 – Kenya is once again at a crossroads as nationwide protests led by the country’s youth escalate into violent confrontations with security forces. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has delivered a blistering rebuke of President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of orchestrating a state-sponsored crackdown on peaceful demonstrators while deploying government-backed goons to incite chaos.
In a detailed and impassioned statement, Gachagua condemned the excessive use of force, abductions, and extrajudicial killings targeting Kenya’s Gen-Z protesters, who have taken to the streets to demand economic justice, an end to corruption, and accountability for police brutality.
The protests, which began as a response to the killing of activist Albert Ojwang, have since evolved into a nationwide movement, with demonstrators clashing with police in Nairobi CBD, Kiambu Road, and other major urban centers. The government’s heavy-handed response has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups, opposition leaders, and now, one of its own former top officials.
The Government’s Violent Response: Live Bullets, Abductions, and Propaganda
Gachagua’s statement pulls no punches in accusing the Ruto administration of systematic brutality against Kenya’s youth. He highlights several key allegations:
1. Police Firing Live Ammunition at Peaceful Protesters
Eyewitness reports and viral social media footage show Kenyan police opening fire on unarmed demonstrators, leading to multiple fatalities. Gachagua condemned this as “state-sanctioned murder”, emphasizing that the protests were initially peaceful vigils for slain activists before police escalated tensions.
2. Use of Government-Linked Goons to Discredit Protests
One of the most explosive claims in Gachagua’s statement is that state-sponsored thugs were deployed to loot businesses in Nairobi CBD—under police protection—to frame the Gen-Z movement as violent.
“We have credible information that county officials and regime-aligned politicians led goons in a targeted looting spree,” Gachagua stated. “Businesses were left untouched at night, only to be found ransacked in the morning.”
3. Media Blackout to Conceal State Crimes
The government allegedly shut down TV signals to prevent coverage of police brutality and goon-led destruction, raising concerns about an emerging authoritarian media clampdown.
4. Murkomen’s Divisive Ethnic Profiling
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen further inflamed tensions by claiming the protests were a “Kikuyu uprising”—a narrative Gachagua dismissed as “cheap propaganda” meant to ethnicize a national youth-led movement.
Why Are Kenya’s Gen-Z Protesters in the Streets?
The Kenya protests did not emerge overnight. They are the culmination of years of economic neglect, rampant corruption, and broken political promises. Key grievances include:
1. Unemployment and Economic Despair
President Ruto campaigned on a platform of “hustler empowerment”, promising jobs and economic relief. Instead, Kenya’s youth face record unemployment, with many graduates unable to secure work.
2. Police Brutality and Extrajudicial Killings
The abduction and killing of activists—such as the recent murder of Albert Ojwang—have fueled public outrage. Protesters demand an end to impunity for security forces.
3. Corruption and Elite Greed
Despite austerity measures affecting ordinary Kenyans, top officials continue extravagant spending, including luxury travel and inflated government contracts.
4. Government Intimidation Tactics
Instead of dialogue, the state has responded with arrests, internet shutdowns, and violent dispersals, further radicalizing the youth.
Gachagua’s Warning: “Ruto, You Are Burning This Country”
In his most striking remarks, Gachagua directly accused President Ruto of pushing Kenya toward chaos:
“You lecture these youths about patriotism, yet you are the one setting this nation ablaze. They have more tomorrows than you or I—they will not surrender.”
He reminded Ruto of Kenya’s history of resistance, from the anti-colonial struggle to the fight against Moi’s dictatorship, warning that two years of repression will not break this generation.
The Fallout: Cancelled Engagements and Calls for Resistance
In solidarity with victims, Gachagua announced:
- Cancellation of a media briefing with Embu journalists.
- Postponement of public rallies, citing respect for grieving families.
His move signals a growing opposition mobilization against Ruto’s regime, with protests expected to intensify.
International Reaction and What Comes Next
Global rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have demanded an independent probe into police killings. The UN and AU may soon intervene if violence escalates.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s youth remain defiant. Social media campaigns like #RutoMustGo and #GenZResistance continue trending, signaling that this movement will not back down.
Conclusion: A Regime at a Crossroads
President Ruto now faces a critical choice:
- Continue repression, risking a full-blown uprising.
- Initiate dialogue, addressing youth demands before it’s too late.
As Gachagua’s statement warns:
“When history judges this era, Ruto’s legacy will be written in blood—unless he listens.”
