By Brenda Muriithi
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued a chilling warning to Kenyan youth ahead of the planned June 25 protests, claiming there is a sinister government plot to violently target demonstrators during the event, which is being organized to commemorate last year’s deadly anti-tax protests.
Speaking during a live interview on Kameme FM on Monday morning, Gachagua accused President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja of orchestrating a scheme to use hired goons to infiltrate the demonstrations and carry out attacks against peaceful protesters.
“I fear that if the youth take to the streets, the government and the Nairobi governor will use goons from areas like Umoja and Kayole to kill them,” Gachagua said. “These children are ours, and I feel terrible when blood is shed.”
He claimed that these same individuals have previously been paid to disrupt public events and rallies, and warned that desperation within the government could lead to bloodshed on the streets of Nairobi. “Let us not send our children to the slaughterhouse while we watch,” Gachagua pleaded. “This is a plot born out of fear and panic.”
The former Deputy President urged Kenyan youth and their families to refrain from participating in the street protests and instead mark the day quietly from their homes. His comments come at a time of heightened political tension, as the June 25 date approaches—a year since nationwide demonstrations against the 2024 Finance Bill turned deadly.
That wave of protests, driven largely by young people across the country, saw violent confrontations with police, resulting in the deaths and injuries of several demonstrators. Rights groups at the time accused the government of using excessive force to crush dissent, while calls for justice for those killed or injured remain largely unanswered.
Civil society organizations, student unions, and opposition leaders have called for a peaceful commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the protests, emphasizing the need to remember those who lost their lives while advocating for accountability, transparency, and economic justice.
However, Gachagua’s warning has added a new layer of fear and uncertainty, as tensions between the political class and the youth continue to grow. His statement is likely to intensify scrutiny on government security plans and may force both national and county officials to publicly respond to the serious allegations of an impending crackdown.
Neither President Ruto nor Governor Sakaja has responded directly to Gachagua’s claims as of Monday afternoon. However, State House sources and Nairobi County officials have in the past dismissed similar accusations as "baseless and politically motivated."
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and other watchdog groups are already monitoring the situation closely, with calls mounting for all sides to avoid provocation and for the government to guarantee the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest.
Meanwhile, security agencies have reportedly heightened surveillance in Nairobi and other urban centers ahead of the June 25 anniversary, with intelligence reports indicating that both peaceful gatherings and possible disruptions are being planned.
As Kenyans prepare to mark a solemn anniversary, the country once again finds itself at a crossroads—between the right to protest and fears of repression.
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