Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has fiercely criticised the government’s response to Wednesday’s protests that ended in bloodshed, accusing the state of turning its forces against the people it is meant to protect.
At least 11 people, including a schoolboy and a young child, were confirmed dead after police opened fire on demonstrators during the June 25 protests. Dozens more were injured.
“This is not just unconstitutional it is immoral,” said a statement from Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) on Wednesday evening. “The blood of our youth should not be the price of accountability.”
The party issued three firm demands: a stop to what it called “rampant police brutality,” the immediate lifting of restrictions on media, and justice for the families of those killed.
The protests, largely led by Kenya’s Gen Z movement, were intended as a peaceful call for accountability and remembrance of those killed in last year’s demonstrations. Protesters planned to present petitions to Parliament and State House, but their paths were blocked. Security forces had sealed off major roads and erected razor wire around Parliament and the CBD, forcing clashes across Nairobi and other towns.
“No barricade can stop a generation demanding change,” the DCP declared.
Censorship and Media Blackouts
As tensions escalated, the Communications Authority of Kenya ordered all broadcasters to stop airing live coverage of the protests. Just hours later, transmission equipment belonging to NTV and KTN was raided, briefly taking both channels off air.
The High Court has since suspended the order, terming it unconstitutional and allowing media houses to resume operations.
“This is a blatant assault on press freedom,” the DCP said, accusing the state of hiding its actions from public scrutiny. “Silencing the media at a time of national crisis only deepens mistrust and widens the divide.”
Eyewitness Footage and Use of Live Bullets
Disturbing videos from the day’s events circulated widely, showing police firing into crowds and beating unarmed civilians. Among the dead was a Form Three student and a young boy in Mukuru, both hit by live bullets, according to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).
“The use of live ammunition against peaceful demonstrators is a gross abuse of power and a clear violation of human rights,” the KHRC said in a separate statement.
DCP urged the government to offer compensation not only to this week’s victims but also to those who lost loved ones in the 2024 protests. Gachagua’s party also vowed continued support for the Gen Z movement and journalists facing threats for simply doing their job.
“We stand with every young person calling for a better future,” the statement read.
As public outrage grows and fresh protests loom, all eyes are now on President William Ruto’s administration. The question remains: will the government listen or continue to silence dissent with force?
