Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has proposed that June 25 be declared a public holiday to honour Gen Z youths who lost their lives during the anti-Finance Bill protests.
Speaking during the official launch of the People's Liberation Party on Thursday, Kalonzo alleged that June 25 is the true liberation day to fight injustice, reject abductions, condemn the looting of Kenya's resources, and end the impoverishment of the Kenyan people.
"I want to make a very serious proposal—to honour the young Kenyans who died, many of them on June 25, which I call J25. If it meets the approval of young Kenyans, we will declare it a public holiday," Kalonzo said.
According to Kalonzo, the bravery of Gen Z during the protests is reason enough to celebrate them as heroes of liberation.
The Wiper leader stated that Gen Z's actions had made them an inspiration to the world, challenging other young people globally to take charge of their countries' leadership.
"Our young people are still very angry, but they have become an inspiration to the world. University students in Bangladesh took it up and removed Sheikh Hasina. University students in Sweden were asking me how our Gen Zs did it," Kalonzo said.
His sentiments were echoed by other leaders present at the launch, including former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, who praised Gen Zs for sacrificing their lives.
Kibwana challenged the leaders to mirror Gen Z and be ready to sacrifice their ambitions for the good of the nation.
According to a report by Amnesty International and several human rights organisations, 61 people were killed during the protests.
The report, based on extensive research and interviews, stated that six people were killed on 25 June alone, while 72 were either abducted or remain missing as a result of the protests.
The protests were met with a harsh police response.
It has been over six months since thousands of Kenyans took to the streets to express their discontent with the Finance Bill 2024.
The June 25 protests became a watershed moment, marking the first time demonstrators accessed Parliament—a bold assertion of their constitutional right to protest.
