Opposition leaders appeared divided on Tuesday over planned June 25 demonstrations, with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua urging Gen Z protesters to stay away from the streets, even as leaders allied to the Linda Mwananchi faction postponed their rallies to join the commemorative protests.

Gachagua, who leads the DCP party, claimed the state had mobilized goons to infiltrate and disrupt Thursday’s demonstrations, warning that the protests could turn violent and lead to loss of lives.

Addressing journalists from his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri county, the former deputy president alleged that Sh200 million had been set aside to fund groups he claimed had been instructed to cause chaos, especially in the Mount Kenya region.

He urged young people not to participate in the protests, saying he feared the demonstrations would be hijacked and used to create violence that could later be blamed on the youth or opposition leaders.

"Kenyans, I understand your discontent with this administration. But please keep off the streets. Stay at home and wait for August 2027 when you will express your anger through the ballot and make Ruto a one-term president," said Gachagua.

Gachagua said the Gen Z movement had already made its point and warned that any planned commemoration should not be allowed to become a platform for bloodshed.

“I am asking our young people not to go to the streets,” he said, adding that he believed lives could be lost if the demonstrations proceeded as planned.

The government did not immediately respond to Gachagua’s claims on the alleged mobilization of goons or the reported Sh200 million fund.

His remarks, however, contrasted with the position taken by leaders of the Linda Mwananchi political faction, who announced that they had postponed planned rallies in Kisii and Keroka to allow their supporters to join other Kenyans in peaceful demonstrations marking the June 25 Gen Z protests.

Speaking during a press conference at parliament, the leaders said the decision was meant to show solidarity with Kenyans participating in the commemorations and to support peaceful civic engagement.

They said the demonstrations should remain peaceful and focused on accountability, justice and remembrance of the events that shaped the Gen Z-led protest movement.

The planned protests come against the backdrop of the June 25 anniversary, a date that has become politically significant following youth-led demonstrations that put pressure on the government over taxation, governance, corruption and police conduct.

The Gen Z protests, which began as a largely youth-driven campaign against the Finance Bill, later evolved into broader calls for accountability and reforms in public institutions.

The split in the opposition’s messaging highlights the growing sensitivity around the planned demonstrations, with some leaders backing public mobilization while others are warning of possible infiltration, violence and

At the same briefing, Linda Mwananchi leaders also dismissed the decision by the ODM National Executive Committee to remove Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna from the position of Secretary-General.

They argued that the move was flawed and said they expected the courts to overturn the decision.

The faction said it remained confident that the legal process would determine the dispute over Sifuna’s position and urged ODM members to respect due process.

They maintained that internal party disagreements should not distract from broader national issues, including the right of Kenyans to assemble peacefully and demand accountability from public leaders.

Security agencies are also likely to come under scrutiny over how they manage the protests, particularly given previous concerns about police conduct during demonstrations.

Gachagua said his warning should not be interpreted as opposition to the youth movement, but as a call for caution in light of what he described as credible information about planned disruption.

The differing positions now leave Gen Z protesters and opposition supporters weighing whether to heed Gachagua’s warning or join the planned commemorations as urged by other opposition-aligned leaders.

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