VOI, Kenya – Opposition leaders Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka have called for a nationwide boycott of work on June 25, declaring it a symbolic public holiday in memory of young people killed during last year’s anti-government protests.
Addressing roadside rallies in Voi, Taita Taveta County on Saturday, the Wiper Party leader urged Kenyans to stay home on that day to commemorate the 2024 “Gen Z” protests, in which police opened fire on demonstrators storming Parliament in protest of the controversial Finance Bill 2024.
“I want to declare that June 25 will be a public holiday for all Kenyans in honour of our Gen Zs who were killed when they tried to submit a petition to Parliament,” said Kalonzo.
He announced that the day would henceforth be marked as Gen Z Liberation Day, describing it as a moment to reflect on the youth-led pushback against high taxes and economic hardship.
“June 25 will be a liberation day to commemorate the sacrifice of our Gen Zs who sought to liberate this country,” he said.
The 2024 protests, largely driven by young, digitally mobilised Kenyans, rocked the country with unprecedented energy and scale.
Dubbed the “Gen Z Uprising,” the demonstrations were largely leaderless and fueled by online outrage over what protesters called exploitative governance and runaway taxation.
Gachagua, a former deputy president-turned-opposition leader, supported the call, describing the day as a solemn occasion for national reflection and solidarity.
Although the opposition lacks the legal authority to declare a public holiday—a mandate reserved for the Interior Cabinet Secretary—their appeal could paralyse normal activity in urban areas, especially where opposition support is strong.
In the past, similar calls by opposition leaders have seen businesses shuttered and transport disrupted in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa.
“We are telling Kenyans, on June 25, stay home in solidarity. No work, no business. Let us honour those who paid the price,” Kalonzo said.
