Siaya Governor James Orengo on Thursday accused the government of sponsoring groups to disrupt peaceful demonstrations marking the anniversary of the June 25, 2024 Gen Z protests.
In a statement after joining commemorative activities in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, Mr Orengo said the conduct witnessed during the protests had exposed what he termed as state-backed attempts to intimidate citizens exercising their constitutional rights.
"The mask has completely fallen. It is now undeniably evident that the goons unleashed to harass peaceful citizens were state-sponsored and operating under police escort," Mr Orengo said.
The governor, a long-time opposition figure, praised Kenyans who took to the streets and those who marked the anniversary from their homes, describing them as patriots committed to the country's democratic ideals.
"Today, I stood with courageous Kenyans in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and across the nation to mark the historic Gen Z protests anniversary. I salute every patriot who took to the streets and every citizen who honoured this day from home," he said.
Mr Orengo said attempts to intimidate protesters would not silence Kenyans' demands for justice and accountability.
"Despite the state's desperate resistance, we marched to Parliament and laid a wreath in honour of our fallen heroes who died during the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations," he said.
He described the youth killed during the protests as symbols of a continuing struggle for a more just society.
"They tried to bury our youth; they forgot they were seeds. The struggle for a just Kenya continues," Mr Orengo said.
The June 25 anniversary demonstrations drew thousands of Kenyans into the streets to commemorate victims of last year's anti-government protests and renew calls for accountability over police brutality, economic hardships and governance reforms.
The government has denied allegations of sponsoring violence and has maintained that the heavy security deployment during the protests was necessary to protect lives and property and prevent criminal elements from infiltrating the demonstrations.
