Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has urged protesters to exercise their right to demonstrate responsibly, stressing that individual freedoms must not infringe upon the rights of others. Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s planned Gen Z protest, Kaluma emphasized that while peaceful assembly is a constitutional right, it should not disrupt essential services or daily life.
“Your right to demonstrate ends where the rights of other people begin,” Kaluma stated, adding that no Kenyan should be prevented from accessing hospitals, going to work, or taking their children to school because of ongoing protests. “Our children shouldn’t miss school because of demonstrations, just as those doing business shouldn’t close down,” he said.
Kaluma’s comments come as youth under the Gen Z banner prepare to hold a symbolic protest on Wednesday, marking one year since the deadly anti-Finance Bill 2024 demonstrations. On June 25, 2024, nationwide protests turned tragic when police opened fire on demonstrators outside Parliament. Protesters had stormed the building in defiance of MPs’ decision to pass the highly controversial Finance Bill 2025.
Opposition leaders, led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, have vowed to join the Gen Z-organized demonstrations. They declared Wednesday a symbolic public holiday in honor of those killed during last year’s unrest, with civil society organisations planning processions and a candlelight vigil to remember the fallen.
Kaluma, however, called for dialogue through proper channels, warning that street protests may lead to further disruption and tragedy. “There is no need for Kenyans to take to the streets when relevant institutions exist that can help address grievances,” he said. He also revealed that his own children would not be participating in the demonstrations.
As the nation braces for Wednesday’s events, the debate continues on how best to balance the constitutional right to protest with the need to safeguard public order, essential services, and individual freedoms. Kaluma’s stance reflects growing concern over ensuring peaceful demonstrations without compromising the rights and safety of non-participants.
