NAIROBI, Kenya – Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has thrown his weight behind Kenya’s Gen Z movement, urging young people to remain resolute as they prepare to commemorate the first anniversary of the deadly anti-Finance Bill protests held in June 2024.
In a video message shared on Tuesday, Babu called on the youth to “soldier on” in honour of the more than 60 young Kenyans who died during last year’s protests against the now-repealed Finance Bill.
“What I will tell my Gen-Z brothers and sisters is to fight on, soldier on. It is not over until it is over,” Babu said.
His message comes on the eve of a fresh round of nationwide demonstrations set for Wednesday, June 25, organised as a remembrance of what many now call “the fallen soldiers of Gen Z.”
“Tomorrow, commemorate your fallen soldiers. In honour of your fallen soldiers, be present, be visible,” he added.
Babu affirmed his unwavering support for the youth, saying, “I’m with you at 11 on a scale of 0 to 10… supporting you at 101 per cent.”
The planned protests are expected to be marked by candlelight vigils, marches, and sit-ins across major towns, with activists calling for justice for those who were killed or disappeared in the 2024 crackdown.
Human rights groups estimate that at least 61 people lost their lives during the protests, although official government figures place the number at 42.
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Political activist and ODM Youth League leader Kasmuel McOure also voiced his solidarity from abroad.
Currently in the United States for the Mandela Washington Fellowship, McOure said he stands with the movement despite being physically away.
“We must never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The youth will eventually liberate this country,” he posted on X.
Government Response
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, however, warned that security agencies have been instructed to deal “firmly and decisively” with any armed or violent elements among the protesters.
“The government will not allow lawlessness. We won’t sit back and watch as goons unleash chaos in the CBD,” Murkomen said on Tuesday.
The Gen Z-led protest movement has evolved into a powerful force in Kenya’s civic space, often rallying around issues like youth unemployment, government accountability, and police brutality.
