Opposition Slams ‘Fake’ Claims of Protest Suspension, Vows to Lead June 25 Marches in Nairobi

Kenya’s opposition leaders have categorically denied allegations that they sought to suspend the highly anticipated June 25 protests, terming a viral social media post making such claims as fake and misleading. 

The Wiper Democratic Movement, led by Kalonzo Musyoka, flagged the widely circulated post as a deliberate attempt by alleged government bloggers to weaken public support ahead of the nationwide demonstrations. The protests are set to mark one year since last year’s deadly anti-government rallies that left scores of youth dead. 

The now-debunked post had alleged that opposition leaders, including Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua, Eugene Wamalwa, and Martha Karua, had expressed fears of violent infiltration by goons reportedly hired by the government. The post further claimed that over 500 youths from Nairobi’s informal settlements, such as Kibera, Mathare, and Korogocho, and the North Rift region had been mobilized and paid Ksh5,000 each to sabotage peaceful demonstrators. 

The post falsely stated that due to this threat, the opposition leaders were urging their supporters to stay away from the streets. However, the Wiper Party dismissed the entire narrative as baseless and warned Kenyans against falling for state-sponsored misinformation. 

“To those blood-based regime bloggers intent on misleading Kenyans on the United Opposition’s position on tomorrow, know your fake news attempt has only served to galvanize Kenyans. We will be marching tomorrow, June 25, peacefully in honour of our fallen heroes,” Kalonzo Musyoka declared in a strongly worded statement. 

Kalonzo reaffirmed that he, along with other prominent opposition figures, including DAP-Kenya’s Eugene Wamalwa and Martha Karua of the People’s Liberation Party, will take part in the peaceful protests. 

The opposition’s clarification comes after concerned citizens began questioning the legitimacy of the viral post, leading to fears that the entire protest movement was being sabotaged through digital disinformation campaigns. 

As of Wednesday morning, Kenyans across the country are expected to stage coordinated protests in major cities and towns to commemorate the youth who died during last year’s protests and demand government accountability. The June 25 demonstrations are not only a memorial but also a renewed call for justice, transparency, and reform.