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• Wed Jun 11 2025

Opposition leaders Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka have declared June 25 a people?s public holiday to honour victims of the 2024 anti-government protests and police brutality

The death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody sparked national outrage, with the opposition demanding accountability from police and protection for police witnesses

Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura dismissed the opposition's declaration of the holiday, insisting the day remains a normal working day

Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.

Nairobi: Opposition leaders Rigathi Gachagua of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka have declared June 25 a people?s public holiday in honour of victims of last year?s anti-Finance Bill protests.

Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua during a rally in Athi River (l). Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura during an event in North Eastern (r). Photo: Rigathi Gachagua/Isaac Mwaura.

Source: Facebook

Why opposition declared June 25 public holiday

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the leaders said the day would commemorate the events of June 25, 2024, when hundreds of Gen Z protesters stormed Parliament to demonstrate against alleged bad governance and economic mismanagement.

Several Kenyans were killed during the protests, while others sustained injuries. Many of the cases arising from the incident are still pending in court.

Since then, the country has witnessed a surge in alleged extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and abductions, which the opposition blames on the government?s crackdown on dissent.

The recent death of blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody has further fuelled public anger, leading to the declaration.

?Due to the persistent targeting, kidnappings, abductions, intimidation, unlawful arrests, and murders of young people by this regime, we call for June 25, 2025, to be observed as a people?s public holiday,? the statement read in part. ?It will be a day of memorial for all Kenyans who have lost their lives in the fight for justice.?

Ojwang, who was being held at the Central Police Station, died from head trauma and neck compression, according to post-mortem results.

Late blogger Albert Ojwang was pictured at a past event. Photo: Albert Ojwang.

Source: Facebook

Gachagua, Kalonzo issue demands to police after Ojwang's death

His death has sparked nationwide outrage, with questions raised over the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.

The opposition has demanded accountability from the police, posing several key questions:

Whether Ojwang was formally summoned to the station over the allegations against him.

The ranks of the officers involved in his arrest.

The whereabouts of CCTV footage from the station, and who ordered it to be switched off.

Why Ojwang was classified as a high-risk detainee.

Immediate witness protection for junior officers who allegedly possess critical information, amid fears for their safety.

Kalonzo urged Kenyans to seriously reflect on the state of the nation, warning that the ongoing incidents must not be ignored.

Government responds to June 25 holiday declaration

However, the government has dismissed the opposition?s declaration.

Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said June 25 will remain a normal working day.

?We have heard people say June 25 will be a public holiday. There is no public holiday on June 25th. It is a working day if at all it falls on a weekday. Whatever people are trying to recreate for the Gen Z movement, we want to tell them that is a thing of the past,? Mwaura said.

Why did DCI arrest Albert Ojwang?

In other news, while appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, June 11, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja informed the Senate that blogger Ojwang accused DIG Eliud Lagat of strategically placing his trusted officers in key positions to manipulate revenue streams and intelligence flow.

In another post, Ojwang reportedly linked Lagat and Nairobi Area Commander Joseph Chirchir to a major real estate deal.

As per Kanja, the post suggested that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission was investigating Lagat over the purchase of an approximately KSh 337 million home in Dubai.

What else you should know about Albert Ojwang's death

Spy Jane Mugoh advocated for the empowerment and protection of private detections to probe police officers implicated in murder and other criminal cases

IPOA disclosed that CCTV at Central Police Station was tampered with when Ojwang was killed

The US embassy in Kenya has issued demands to the authorities and IPOA over ongoing investigations into Ojwang's death

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke