NAIROBI, Kenya.
June 26, 2025 .
Key opposition leaders on Thursday visited victims of police brutality at Kenyatta National Hospital, calling for justice, accountability, and protection of constitutional rights following deadly protests across the country.
The delegation included DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i.
Their hospital visit came in the wake of youth-led protests that turned tragic after clashes with security forces.
Wamalwa: Innocent lives targeted.
Speaking after meeting the victims, Eugene Wamalwa condemned what he called “excessive and unjustified” force used by police against peaceful protesters.
He said the demonstrations were infiltrated by hired goons who looted and caused chaos to discredit the Gen Z-led movement.
“Peaceful protest is a constitutional right. What we witnessed was a deliberate effort to shift the narrative and criminalize dissent,” Wamalwa said.
Matiang’i: Government must listen.
Dr. Fred Matiang’i said the government had failed to listen to the voices of young people who were raising genuine concerns.
He described the state’s response as heartbreaking, urging leaders to reflect and act responsibly.
“We cannot brutalize a generation into silence. Kenyans must not lose hope—we have a responsibility to change this country through our own actions,” he said.
Kalonzo: Information blackout is dangerous.
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka took aim at the government’s decision to switch off the terrestrial broadcasts of major media stations during the height of the demonstrations.
He termed the move a deliberate attempt to plunge the country into an information blackout and suppress scrutiny.
“When the media is shut down, violations happen in darkness,” Kalonzo said. “It was meant to hide criminal acts against unarmed citizens.”
Deaths, arrests heighten tensions.
Nationwide protests on Wednesday turned violent in several counties, with multiple deaths reported and hundreds injured.
Dozens were arrested as riot police used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds.
Human rights groups have accused law enforcement of using excessive force and failing to protect peaceful demonstrators.
Opposition stands with Gen Z.
The opposition leaders pledged continued support for the Gen Z movement, which they called a “legitimate and necessary” force in Kenya’s democratic evolution.
They urged the government to uphold the right to protest, freedom of expression, and press freedom.
“We are here not just in solidarity but in commitment—to a new Kenya where no one is silenced for demanding justice,” Wamalwa said.
Calls for justice grow louder.
As the country reels from the fallout of the protests, opposition leaders are demanding immediate investigations into police conduct, justice for victims, and restoration of trust in democratic institutions.
They vowed to hold the government accountable in both courts and the public arena.
The message from Kenyatta National Hospital was clear: the youth have spoken—and Kenya’s leaders must listen.
Ends.
