Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has criticized the conduct of Kenyan youth during the June 25, 2025 memorial protests, accusing them of hijacking a solemn occasion and turning it into a chaotic spectacle.
The protests, which were held to commemorate those killed during the 2024 anti-tax demonstrations, quickly escalated into street battles between police and protesters in cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu, leading to at least 16 confirmed deaths and over 400 injuries, according to Amnesty International Kenya and KNCHR.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Nyamu expressed disappointment with how the day unfolded.
“What happened yesterday wasn’t right. I expected a day to honour the victims of last year’s protests, but it turned into chaos and intimidation,” she wrote.
Nyamu questioned the purpose of this year’s demonstrations, saying they lacked the clarity and purpose of the 2024 protests.
“Did you even have a plan? It felt like many were protesting for the first time, without a clear goal. Was that intentional, or was someone else pulling the strings?” she asked.
She suggested that young protesters may have been influenced by political forces, warning that some leaders are willing to “drag the country into chaos” for selfish gains.
Nyamu went further to raise concerns about targeted property damage, particularly against businesses owned by members of the Kikuyu community.
“Many of the businesses that suffered belong to hardworking Kikuyus. Where is the so-called spokesperson for the community now?” she posed.
The senator urged community leaders to speak out against the destruction, questioning their silence amid reports of vandalism and looting.
