Kenyans online have strongly reacted to controversial remarks made by popular content creator Jaymo Ule Msee regarding the June 25, 2025, protests. The demonstrations, held to commemorate victims of police brutality during the 2024 Occupy Parliament movement, began peacefully but later spiraled into chaos in some areas, with reports of looting and confrontations with police.
Jaymo, whose real name is Wilson Gathoni, came under fire after describing the protests as inauthentic and tribal. He claimed they lacked the impact and sincerity of the previous year’s demonstrations. His online post labeled the 2025 protests as “very fake maandamano with a tribal leaning with zero impact.”
This comment sparked intense backlash across social media platforms. Many Kenyans accused Jaymo of disrespecting the memory of those who lost their lives in 2024 and diminishing the significance of the recent protest movement. Soon after, his phone number was leaked online, and he began receiving a flood of messages and calls — a phenomenon now popularly referred to in Kenyan internet culture as “sending greetings,” which in this context means sending aggressive or hostile texts.
Jaymo responded by sharing screenshots of some of the messages, sarcastically thanking those who reached out and referring to them as the “chief greeters.” He also locked the comment section on his social media pages to contain the fallout.
The reactions were mixed. While some strongly condemned Jaymo’s opinion and called for his cancellation across social platforms, others came to his defense. A section of users argued that freedom of expression should be respected and that dissenting opinions, even if unpopular, have a place in democratic discourse.
Supporters of Jaymo’s right to speak out urged fellow citizens not to contradict the very principles of democracy they claim to be fighting for — such as freedom of thought and expression. On the other side, critics insisted that public figures and influencers must be held accountable for downplaying social justice movements, especially ones involving lives lost.
Some went as far as threatening the safety of Jaymo and his family — a line many Kenyans felt should not be crossed. There were calls from more moderate voices to ignore Jaymo’s remarks altogether and shift focus back to pressing national issues.
As the dust settles, this incident has reignited an important national conversation: how to balance personal opinions, public influence, and civic responsibility in a society still grappling with injustice, activism, and the power of online voices.
