Kenya Human Rights Commission executive director Davis Malombe has asked Kenyans to safeguard the integrity of the Gen Z-led movement from hijackers.
He said the movement’s powerful message risks being taken over by partisan agenda.
The Gen Z protests, which were sparked by last year's finance bill, have emerged as a powerful force for accountability and justice.
Political actors are increasingly aligning themselves with the Gen-Z cause because it speaks to the hearts and minds of Kenyans. However, Malombe fears this may potentially overshadow grassroots voices.
“This is a historic moment. Young people have risen, organically and courageously, to demand good governance and fairness. Our role is to stand with them and ensure their message remains clear, untainted and grounded in constitutional values,” he said.
The executive director said while citizens from all walks of life have joined the youth, it is important to remain vigilant against efforts to instrumentalise the movement for narrow political interests.
“Kenya has seen such moments before, where genuine calls for justice are absorbed into political theatre. This time, we must protect the clarity of the Gen Z voice,” Malombe said.
He said KHRC and other civil society groups are focused on strengthening the civic space, defending human rights and amplifying citizen-led demands for equity and justice.
“We support movements that emerge from the people. But we also recognise the risks when opportunistic actors try to ride on their momentum. That, can blur the message and distract them from their goals,” Malombe said.
He asked political leaders to endorse values being advocated for, such as accountability, transparency and dignity for all, but warned against attempts to dominate the conversations.
“Our constitution gives us all the right to speak, to assemble, to dream of a better country. What we must guard against is exploitations of that right in ways that obscure original demands being made, particularly by young people whose courage has led us here,” Malombe said.
The executive director decried police's refusal to investigate and arrest perpetrators of the July 6 attack on KHRC offices.
He described the attack as brutal and one that the agency will overcome.
"We are used to these scare tactics by state actors but we have dealt with such schemes before and won.”
“Attacks on civil society entities such as KHRC and other human rights activists are only emboldening them to continue their work. When you single out KHRC, it also shows our power and that even our enemies recognise our impact.”
In 2015, KHRC and Muhuri were singled out as sponsors of terrorism, an attack they fought successfully in court.
“We were even among the organisation the government targeted last year as part of the 16 that allegedly supported the Gen Z protests. They profiled us, with DCI writing to us. But even the state knows our weight here and we push for what we believe in unapologetically,” Malombe said.
He said KHRC will be keen to galvanise efforts to provide alternative political leadership in the run up to the 2027 election.
“All these things we fight for, including the constitution, rule of law and good governance, they are all political. We are not non-partisan and we are bold.”
Instant analysis
Malombe’s warning underscores growing tensions between civil society and opportunistic political actors. The battle for Kenya’s democratic soul may now hinge on who truly represents the people's voice—and who is merely speaking over it.
