Africa-Press – Kenya. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has said June 25 will be marked as a national holiday by the opposition, announcing plans for what he termed the “mother of all demonstrations” to honour victims of last year’s anti-Finance Bill protests.
Speaking on Wednesday during the launch of the Komboa Kenya tour in Kitui West, Kalonzo said the date would be set aside to commemorate young Kenyans who lost their lives during protests outside Parliament.
“The mother of all demonstrations will be on June 25, to mark the day we lost our children at Parliament during the protests against the Finance Bill,” he said.
He described the events of that day as painful, recalling how families were forced to search for and identify their loved ones in mortuaries following the unrest.
“Our children were killed by snipers, and we had to go to the mortuary to identify them. It was a very bad and hard time,” Kalonzo said.
In a bold declaration, the opposition leader said that he and his allies would treat the day as a national holiday, despite not being in government.
“On that day, together with my colleagues in the alternative government, we will mark it as a public holiday to remember how Kenyan youth shed blood for nothing,” he said.
Kalonzo framed the planned demonstrations as a memorial and a political statement, accusing the government of failing to listen to citizens who opposed the Finance Bill.
The June 25 protests refer to last year’s youth-led demonstrations that drew thousands to the streets, culminating in clashes with security forces near Parliament.
The events have since become a rallying point for opposition leaders seeking to mobilise support around governance and economic concerns.
However, Kalonzo’s declaration that the day will be marked as a national holiday raises legal questions, as the authority to gazette public holidays lies with the national government.
Even so, the opposition appears intent on using the date symbolically to galvanise supporters and sustain momentum from last year’s protests.
The announcement came as Kalonzo, alongside other opposition figures, kicked off the Komboa Kenya tour in Kitui county, aimed at consolidating grassroots support ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a message shared after rallies in Tulia and Katutu areas of Mwingi West constituency, Kalonzo thanked residents for what he described as a strong show of support.
“Your voices are clear, your resolve is firm, and your hope for a better Kenya is alive,” he said.
He reiterated the opposition’s position as a “government-in-waiting”, pledging to push for accountability, economic justice and leadership that reflects the will of the people.
“As the United Alternative Government-in-Waiting, we stand with you in the pursuit of accountable leadership and a government that truly serves its people,” the Wiper leader said.
The Komboa Kenya tour is expected to continue across several counties, with opposition leaders seeking to tap into growing public discontent and position themselves as a viable alternative ahead of the next election cycle.
The planned June 25 demonstrations could emerge as a defining political moment, particularly if they draw significant participation from the youth, who played a central role in last year’s protests.
While the declaration of a “national holiday” by the opposition may not carry legal weight, it signals an escalation in political messaging as rival camps intensify mobilisation efforts across the country.
