There was no confrontation on Parliament Road Tuesday morning as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and other opposition leaders paid tribute to young Kenyans killed during the June 2024 protests.
Kalonzo, accompanied by DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa and several political allies, laid a symbolic wreath at the razor wire barricade sealing off Parliament Road. The leaders had earlier congregated outside the Holy Family Basilica, where they held brief prayers before marching toward the heavily secured zone.
Despite being blocked from accessing Parliament Square, the leaders did not attempt to breach the barrier. Instead, they knelt quietly, laid flowers, and offered a prayer, flanked by their security details and under the close watch of anti-riot police.
“This is about honouring the youth who paid the ultimate price for standing up for justice and dignity,” Kalonzo told reporters shortly before the solemn moment. “Today must be remembered, and in future, it must be a national day of reflection.”
The peaceful act came amid tight security in Nairobi, with police bracing for possible Gen Z-led protests. Parliament Road, like many streets in the capital, had been sealed with razor wire and guarded by anti-riot police since dawn.
Kalonzo noted that many Kenyans had opted to stay indoors, marking June 25 as a day of national mourning. “It truly feels like a public holiday,” he said, highlighting what he called a silent yet powerful act of remembrance.
The leaders left the scene quietly after the tribute, with police maintaining calm and order.
