Opposition leaders visit victims of the Wednesday Gen Z demonstrations at Kenyatta Hospital. Photo Courtesy. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Opposition leaders have slammed the government for making unsubstantiated claims over the recent Gen Z protests, challenging it to take action against those it believes are behind the demonstrations instead of resorting to public accusations.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i termed the government’s conduct as “absurd,” saying it was disappointing that an administration with full control of state machinery had reduced itself to issuing statements rather than acting on available intelligence.
“We should stop making excuses when it comes to public responsibility. If the government has evidence that the opposition or any individuals are organizing or funding the protests, why hasn’t it arrested them? What are they waiting for?” Matiang’i posed.
He emphasized that it was against the spirit of statecraft for senior officials, including Cabinet Secretaries, to make allegations without following due process.
“You cannot be in government, with all the instruments of power, and still resort to press briefings and finger-pointing. If you have evidence, arrest the suspects, take them to court, and table your facts. Otherwise, stop misleading wananchi,” he added.
Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka echoed Matiang’i’s sentiments, accusing the state of playing blame games to deflect attention from its own failures. He claimed the government had been using hired goons to infiltrate peaceful protests and provoke chaos.
“We all saw what happened when Kenyans demonstrated following the killing of Albert Ojwang. The same goons who disrupted the protests later confessed who they were working for. So let the government stop dragging the opposition into its own mess,” Kalonzo said.
The leaders also demanded a comprehensive public inquest into the killings that have occurred not just during the current administration but also in previous regimes.
“We should not limit investigations to incidents in 2023, 2024, or 2025. Let’s go back in time and have a transparent public inquest into all politically linked killings and unrests. These things are often exploited when it’s politically convenient,” Matiang’i stated.
He urged former state officers with relevant knowledge to speak out and help the public understand the truth behind past state actions.
“It’s time for those who have served in public office to honor their responsibilities. Come forward, share what you know with the nation, and help bring accountability,” he said.
