Who's behind the deadly chaos? June 25 memorial protests spark stormy debate as MPs trade blame

A day after fleeing violent street protests that rocked the country, Members of Parliament returned to the House and traded accusations over who was to blame, with sharp focus placed on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

In a tense Thursday sitting, MPs passed a motion urging the Inspector General of Police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to launch swift and thorough investigations into the widespread lawlessness that marred Wednesday’s demonstrations.

The session, however, turned confrontational, as MPs were split over whether Gachagua played a role in the unrest.

National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, who tabled the motion, demanded the immediate arrest of Gachagua.

He also called for a probe into Embakasi North MP John Gakuya, Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru (Meja Donk), and Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo for allegedly orchestrating chaos in Nairobi.

“What happened yesterday in our country was not a normal demonstration. It was not a Gen Z demonstration. It was a political event that was meant to overthrow the Constitution and the existing governance of this country,” said Junet.

“There was destruction of property in Nyeri, Nyandarua, Kikuyu and Nyamakima, and that tells you who the chief goon is... Rigathi Gachagua,” he claimed.

Junet also demanded an investigation into current and former politicians accused of planning, funding, mobilising, and inciting criminal gangs across the country.

Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who supported the motion, made dramatic claims that his elderly parents had narrowly escaped harm during the protests.

“Yesterday, there was an attempt to kill my 105-year-old father and 85-year-old mother... I dare say today in this house, Rigathi Gachagua is the one who directed goons,” Ichung’wah said, though he did not provide evidence to support his allegations.

However, some MPs pushed back, accusing their colleagues of politicising the Gen Z-led movement and using Gachagua as a scapegoat. Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia questioned the credibility of the accusations.

“Was Rigathi in Homa Bay? Was he in Mombasa? Was he in Kakamega? Was he everywhere?” she asked, dismissing Junet’s remarks.

Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi criticised the debate, saying it reduced a legitimate youth uprising to a political witch-hunt.

“We must stop trivialising the concerns of young people in this country and avoid reducing them to a ‘Gachagua issue. Kenyans demonstrated across the country, and it is because of these genuine concerns that we must rise up and take action to support these young people,” he said.

Away from Parliament, Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli waded into the conversation, accusing the opposition of attempting to destabilise the government under the guise of protests.

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“People have been saying that ‘Ruto must go’ and just the other day I was thinking, even if Ruto were to step down, who in the opposition is ready to take over? Is it Wamunyoro, Kalonzo, Maraga or Matiang’i?” Atwoli posed.

“The demonstrations are no longer being controlled by the Gen Zs. They have been taken over by the political class,” he added.

Earlier in the day, a group of 10 MPs affiliated with both UDA and ODM claimed that Wednesday’s demonstrations were part of a coordinated scheme by unknown actors to remove President William Ruto from power.