Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has dismissed claims that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is behind the Gen Z-led protests that have gripped Kenya since June 2024. In a strongly worded post on X, Kibwana challenged the government’s narrative, arguing that it is illogical to link Gachagua to a movement that emerged before his political downfall.
“Mountainman RG was impeached October 2024. Gen Z uprising debacled June 2024. Help me with the maths!” Kibwana wrote, pointing out the temporal inconsistency in the accusations.
He described the youth movement as an organic, spontaneous uprising driven by legitimate frustrations over governance, corruption, police brutality, and the high cost of living. Kibwana urged the government to stop scapegoating political figures and instead engage meaningfully with the concerns raised by the youth.
The Gen Z protests began in June 2024 in opposition to a controversial finance bill but have since evolved into a nationwide call for systemic reforms. The movement resurfaced on June 25, 2025, to commemorate its first anniversary and to demand justice for Albert Ojwang, a teacher and blogger who died in police custody.
Tensions escalated when face mask vendor Boniface Kariuki was fatally shot by police during a protest. His burial on July 11 in Kangema has added emotional weight to the protests.
Gachagua, who has distanced himself from the Ruto administration, has also denied involvement in mobilizing the protests. He condemned police brutality and criticized the government for failing to deliver on its promises to the youth.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and President William Ruto have maintained a hardline stance, labelling the protests as unconstitutional and a threat to national security. Ruto’s controversial directive to police to shoot protesters in the legs has drawn condemnation from rights groups.
Despite efforts to paint the movement as politically driven, Gen Z demonstrators insist their cause is nonpartisan and rooted in a desire for a just, accountable, and inclusive government. Kibwana’s call reflects a growing consensus that the state must recognize the legitimacy of the movement and respond with reforms not repression.
