The peaceful June 25 Gen Z anniversary demonstrations may have delivered the biggest political lesson of the year—and one that DCP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua cannot easily explain away.
For months, Kenyans watched protests spiral into violence. Businesses were looted, traders lost millions, public property was destroyed and innocent wananchi were caught in the crossfire. Every time this happened, political leaders blamed unnamed “goons” or accused their rivals of orchestrating the chaos.
Then came June 25.
Thousands of young people took to the streets to commemorate the Gen Z movement. Yet unlike many previous demonstrations, there was no widespread looting, no destruction of businesses and no scenes of chaos that had become all too familiar.
Ironically, it was Gachagua himself who offered the most intriguing political statement after the protests. He thanked Gen Z for “heeding” his call to remain peaceful and avoid confrontation.
That single statement has fundamentally changed the political conversation.
If a call for restraint could help produce one of the most peaceful nationwide demonstrations in recent memory, many Kenyans are now asking why similar appeals were not consistently made during previous protests that left traders counting losses and families living in fear.
No one should confuse these questions with proof of criminal wrongdoing. They are not. But they are legitimate questions about political leadership, influence and responsibility.
This is where Gachagua’s politics becomes a matter of national concern.
Kenya cannot afford leaders whose political strategy thrives on permanent confrontation. Democracy does not require constant tension. Opposition politics should provide alternative ideas, hold government accountable and inspire confidence—not create an environment where every political disagreement risks escalating into a national crisis.
Our country has painful memories of politically driven instability. We know what happens when public emotions are inflamed and political competition becomes a zero-sum game. The biggest victims are never politicians. They are ordinary Kenyans whose businesses are destroyed, whose jobs disappear and whose dreams are delayed.
The June 25 anniversary proved something many had forgotten: protests can be peaceful, disciplined and respectful of other citizens’ rights.
As Kenya moves toward the 2027 General Election, every political leader—including DCP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua—must decide whether they want to build the nation or deepen its divisions. Kenya deserves a politics of ideas, not a politics of perpetual confrontation. Our democracy will be stronger when leaders compete through persuasion at the ballot, not through rhetoric that keeps the country permanently on edge.
