Ichung’wah: Only State can declare holidays, not opposition leaders

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah on June 7, 2025. PHOTO/X/Kimani Ichung'wah.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah claims opposition leaders are planning to weaponise the proposed June 25 ‘public holiday’ to incite the youth against the government.

The Kikuyu MP warned the opposition that President William Ruto’s administration will not allow them to capitalise on young people to divide the country along generational lines.

“For those who imagine that the unfortunate events of last June are something they can use to incite Kenyans—please look for another agenda,” he said on June 7, 2025.

“Even if one Kenyan lost their life, that is not something to play politics with. Kenyans have no space for divisions—not along ethnic lines, and certainly not the generational divisions you’re trying to create among our young people.”

Ichung’wah also emphasised that only the government has the legal authority to declare a public holiday.

“There is nobody with the authority to declare a public holiday in Kenya except the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration,” he stated.

“We are a nation of many generations, and we will not allow you to weaponise one generation of young Kenyans against others.”

His remarks were in response to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who have called on Kenyans to boycott work on June 25.

On June 7, 2025, the two leaders declared the day a symbolic public holiday in honour of Generation Z protesters who lost their lives during the 2024 anti-government demonstrations.

They urged citizens to stay home on that day to commemorate the young people killed during the June 25, 2024, protests, when demonstrators stormed Parliament in opposition to the controversial Finance Bill, 2024.

Security forces opened fire during the chaos, resulting in at least five reported deaths.

Speaking during roadside rallies in Voi, Taita Taveta County, on Saturday, June 7, 2025, Kalonzo called for a national show of solidarity by staying away from work.

“I want to declare that June 25 will be a public holiday for all Kenyans in honour of our Gen Zs who were killed while trying to submit a petition to Parliament,” Kalonzo said.

He announced that the day would henceforth be marked as “Gen Z Liberation Day” to honour the youth-led protests against the government’s economic policies and tax hikes.

“June 25 will be a liberation day to commemorate the sacrifice of our Gen Zs who sought to liberate this country,” he added.

The 2024 protests were largely led by leaderless, digitally organised Gen Z demonstrators demanding systemic reforms, job opportunities, accountability, and an end to what they called exploitative governance.