PLO Lumumba asks Kanja, Murkomen to ensure peace prevails during Gen Z memorial
According to the lawyer, June 25 is now enshrined as a day to mark the events that took place on the fateful da
City lawyer PLO Lumumba has written to the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen asking them to ensure that demonstrators are protected as they mark the first anniversary of the 63 Gen Zs killed during the ant-Finance Bill protest on June 25 last year.
“As Kenyans of goodwill and young Kenyans now popularly known as ‘Gen Z’ prepare to commemorate the 25th day of June, 2024, on Wednesday, the 25th day of June, 2025, I humbly beseech you to ensure that officers of the Kenya Police Service protect the ‘demonstrators’ to ensure peace prevails,” Lumumba’s letter says in part.
According to the lawyer, June 25 is now enshrined as a day to mark the events that took place on the fateful day.
“The 25th day of June is now indelibly stenciled in the annals of Kenya’s history due to the events that took place on Tuesday, the 25th day of June, 2024, whose details are in the public domain and are known to you,” he stated.
His letter comes even as the international community led by various embassies and high commissioners in Kenya have urged the government to ensure protestors are given protection tomorrow.
In a joint statement to the press, the envoys representing the Netherlands, the British, Germany, Danish, Ireland, Canada, Switzerland, Finland, and Sweden among others have called on the President William Ruto not to use plain cloth officers and unmarked vehicles to erode public trust as it was ruled by the High Court last month.
“As citizens prepare to mark this anniversary, we call on all to facilitate peaceful demonstrations and to refrain from violence. The use of plain-clothed officers in unmarked vehicles erodes public trust and was ruled unlawful by the High Court. We urge full compliance with this ruling,” the statement read in part.
The diplomats also raised their concerns on the infiltration of peaceful protests with hired goons.
According to them, the protection of protesters is vital and it has been a cornerstone in the democracy of Kenya.
“We are troubled by the use of hired ‘goons’ to infiltrate or disrupt peaceful gatherings. Protecting the right to protest is vital to preserving civic space and a cornerstone of Kenya’s vibrant democracy,” they shared.
Remembering the lives of those who lost their lives during the protests, the envoys reiterated that every Kenyan has a right to peacefully protest and express themselves.
“We remember those who lost their lives and reaffirm every Kenyan’s right to peaceful assembly and to express themselves.”
