Methu To Kenyans: Skip June 25 Memorial Protests, Wait For 2027 Ballot To Effect Change

Democracy For Citizens Party (DCP) Secretary General-designate John Methu has urged Kenyans to stay away from the planned June 25 memorial protests honoring victims of last year's Gen Z demonstrations, instead calling on citizens to channel their grievances toward the 2027 General Election.

In his remarks, Methu argued that the ballot, rather than street protests, remains the most effective avenue for Kenyans to express their political dissatisfaction and push for the kind of change many have been demanding since the deadly crackdown on demonstrators in 2025.

He suggested that continued street action risks further loss of life without delivering the structural change protesters are seeking, urging patience and strategic political mobilization ahead of the next electoral cycle instead.

The call comes at a particularly sensitive time, as families, civil society groups, and opposition figures across the country prepare to honor those who lost their lives during the Gen Z-led protests that rocked Kenya and triggered widespread condemnation of excessive force by security agencies.

Several prominent leaders, including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, have in recent days called for June 25 to be recognized annually as a public holiday and proposed a national monument to honor the victims.

Methu's appeal is likely to be viewed by some as an attempt to discourage public demonstrations amid heightened anxiety over potential clashes between protesters and police.

Civil rights advocates have repeatedly accused security forces of using excessive force against largely peaceful demonstrators, with multiple memorial gatherings planned in Nairobi and other major towns.

His remarks place him at odds with sections of the political class and civil society who view continued public pressure as essential to holding the government accountable for past abuses.

Critics may argue that urging Kenyans to merely "wait" for elections sidesteps the urgent calls for justice and accountability that have defined the post-protest national conversation.

As tensions simmer ahead of the memorial events, Methu's statement adds yet another voice to the broader debate over how Kenyans should pursue political and social change — through sustained street activism or strictly through the electoral process.


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