Nairobi lockdown a symbol of resistance, say Kalonzo, Karua

Opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua on Thursday joined hundreds of Kenyans in Nairobi to commemorate the second anniversary of the June 25 anti-Finance Bill protests.

They said the day should be remembered as a national moment of reflection and honour for those who lost their lives.

The leaders spoke near Parliament buildings after laying wreaths in memory of victims of the 2024 demonstrations, which culminated in protesters breaching Parliament as lawmakers debated the Finance Bill.

Their remarks came amid heavy security deployment across the capital, with police erecting roadblocks and barricades on major roads leading to the Central Business District, Parliament and other government installations.

Addressing protesters and supporters gathered for the commemoration, Kalonzo praised participants for maintaining peace despite the restrictions imposed by authorities.

“We are very peaceful,” Kalonzo said, urging demonstrators to remain calm and disciplined throughout the day’s activities.

The former Vice President said the heavy police presence and closure of key roads had effectively turned the anniversary into a day unlike any other, with many Kenyans unable to access the city centre.

“A lot of Kenyans have chosen to stay at home in sympathy with the June 2024 deaths. It truly feels like a public holiday,” he said.

Kalonzo said June 25 has become a significant day in Kenya's democratic history and predicted that future generations would formally recognize the date as a national day of remembrance.

“If they deny us today the possibility of going outside Parliament, in the years to come, this will be celebrated as a national holiday properly, with people able to come without having these heavily armed policemen,” he told the crowd.

The opposition leader said the gathering was not a political rally but a memorial event intended to honour young Kenyans who died while demanding accountability and better governance.

“They were shot, killed, and maimed, and a year later, nothing has changed. We feel the pain with their families,” Kalonzo said.

Karua, who stood alongside Kalonzo, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and other opposition figures during the commemoration, echoed calls for justice and accountability.

She maintained that Kenyans had a constitutional right to assemble peacefully and remember those who died during the 2024 protests.

The opposition leaders said the anniversary was meant to honour the sacrifices made by young protesters and to remind the government that many affected families were still waiting for justice.

They also criticized what they described as excessive security measures that restricted movement within the city.