Kalonzo leads opposition in honoring June 25 protest victims with wreath-laying at Parliament
The former vice president also noted what he described as widespread public solidarity, saying many Kenyans had stayed home to reflect on the events of the previous year.
A calm but tense moment unfolded on Parliament Road on Wednesday morning as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and other opposition figures paid tribute to victims of the June 2024 Gen Z protests, laying wreaths at a police barricade under heavy security.
The leaders had earlier gathered outside Holy Family Basilica for prayers before walking towards Parliament Square, where access was blocked by razor wire and a strong police presence.
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Although they were not allowed to go beyond the barrier, they proceeded to lay flowers, knelt in silence, and offered a short prayer at the edge of the restricted zone.
Security had been tightened across Nairobi ahead of the anticipated Gen Z protests, with Parliament Road among the most heavily guarded areas. Officers from various formations surrounded the site, but the tribute continued without incident.
Kalonzo, flanked by DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa and others, said the ceremony was meant to honour those who lost their lives during last year’s protests and to remind the nation of the cost of injustice.
“Today, we just want to remember these young people. We intend to lay wreaths in their memory,” Kalonzo said
“Even if we are denied access to Parliament today, this day must be properly commemorated as a national holiday in the future.”
The former vice president also noted what he described as widespread public solidarity, saying many Kenyans had stayed home to reflect on the events of the previous year.
“A lot of Kenyans have chosen to stay at home in sympathy with the June 2024 deaths. It truly feels like a public holiday—there are barricades everywhere,” Kalonzo said.
Despite police sealing off all roads leading to Parliament, the leaders maintained a peaceful approach, choosing not to engage in any confrontation with officers. Kalonzo's security detail formed a protective ring around him as they approached the police barrier, but the situation remained calm.
As the city marked the anniversary of the 2024 protests, security agencies moved to lock down key streets around Parliament to prevent demonstrators from reaching the building.
Last year’s events saw thousands of young people storm Parliament in a dramatic protest that caught law enforcement off guard, with some entering the National Assembly chambers and others occupying the MPs’ dining area.
The protest ended in tragedy, with several young demonstrators killed in the chaos.
Speaking separately, National Assembly Deputy Minority Leader Robert Mbui criticised the current lockdown around Parliament and said such public institutions should always be accessible.
“Parliament can be visited by any citizen—even the State House can be visited by any citizen,” said Mbui.
Whether opposition leaders will be permitted to hold further events near Parliament remains unclear, but for now, their message of remembrance has been delivered - at the barricades.
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