Kalonzo leads opposition in honoring June 25 victims, accuses govt of sponsoring goons

Opposition leaders led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka have walked to Parliament and laid wreaths outside the building in honor of protest victims who died last year.

The leaders, who were blocked by barricades from getting closer to the precincts, used the occasion to accuse the government of sponsoring unrest by hiring goons during previous demonstrations.

“It is very shameful that William Ruto administration will go down in history that’s afraid of its own people went and deploy unemployed youths to go a beat their fellow citizen as if it is an economic bribery,” Kalonzo said outside Parliament.

The opposition leader further accused Ruto’s administration of lacking sympathy in addressing issues of police brutality. “I can understand as a parent why these children are angry.” He said. “They were maimed, shot and killed. A year later, nothing has happened. They are rightfully angry.”

Kalonzo also condemned the violent police response to peaceful protests by using live bullets to scare protestors.

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“Hawkers’ rights are also human rights. Why shoot a hawker dead? Why? Why shoot him? We pray and continue to pray for Kamau, that God will have mercy on that young man and his family,” he asked.

He also called for national renewal, urging Kenyans to stand firm in reclaiming their country from what he described as betrayal by the current leadership.

The Wiper leader described the June 25 anniversary as one of the most significant moments in the country’s history since independence in 1963.

“I can tell you in the years to come, this will be celebrated as a national holiday properly, with people able to come to Parliament without let or hindrance, without having these heavily armed policemen armed to kill their own citizens. What a shame,” Kalonzo said.

Also present at the memorial were Kitui Senator Enock Wambua, lawyer Njiru Ndegwa, and Kathiani MP Robert Mbui. Former Chief Justice David Maraga also joined the protests.

On Tuesday, the Wiper leader claimed that thousands of goons were readied at City Hall to harm protestors and that hundreds of police officers will be deployed to the streets to work together.

"As we speak, at least by the time I got here, we had information that 4,500 goons were meeting at City Hall preparing to go and maim. The framers of the constitution never envisioned that 15 years down the line, there would be men meeting somewhere under the chief goon to come and do other things. By the way, the 4,500 goons are joined by 5,000 police officers and they are even planning to exchange uniforms,” Kalonzo claimed.

He made the remarks as the opposition launched the People's Restorative Justice Commission (PRJC), which will be chaired by former Attorney General, Justin Muturi, which they said is a precursor to the pursuit of justice in the country.

“If you have a heart, not of stone but of flesh, you do not kill them again tomorrow, do not kill them, do not kill these young people again because the world is watching. Let there be peaceful demonstrations,” Kalonzo said.

Muturi said that the commission marks the start of journey of healing, even as he urged Kenyans to report injustices anonymously or otherwise to them, which they ultimately seek to explore avenues for justice.

“We sat and agreed that there are too many traumas and atrocities committed, and that we find ways of addressing the issues that bedevil this country. Many societies are emerging from the history of oppression and face the challenge of reconciliation with their past. This is a people-led commission to restore justice among its citizens,” he noted.

The former CS also noted that there have been numerous attempts to address historical injustices but have failed saying that in Kenya, informal policies of 'forgive and forget' or 'accept and move on’ have been widely advanced over the years. 

“When we say this, we just want to refresh our memories on events that have happened, is it possible for parents, relatives and friends of kin gunned by police to accept and move on. Various efforts, including prosecution, are done in a way that they are designed to flop leaving long lasting bitterness and traumatized people,” said Muturi.