ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna. /EDWIN SIFUNA/X

ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna has called on Kenyans to boldly exercise their constitutional right to protest as the country prepares to mark the first anniversary of the deadly June 25, 2024 demonstrations.

The commemorative protests on Wednesday will remember victims of the deadly June 25, 2024 “Occupy Parliament” revolt, which erupted in response to the contentious Finance Bill.

In a statement on Monday, Sifuna reaffirmed ODM’s longstanding support for peaceful civic action and urged those who will turn up to assert their right fearlessly

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“We urge all those who will turn out to commemorate the anniversary this Wednesday to fearlessly stand on the side of freedom and democracy, and the right to protest as enshrined in the constitution," he said.

He further called for national unity, urging demonstrators to reject any attempts to sow discord among them.

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"As we draw close to the anniversary of the Gen Z protests, we urge Kenyans of goodwill to uphold national unity and ignore those who seek to divide us."

On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the Occupy Parliament demonstrations, largely led by young people called Gen Z, descended into chaos after protesters breached Parliament grounds, prompting a forceful police pushback that drew widespread criticism both locally and international.

The brutality of the crackdown shocked the nation, igniting conversations about state violence and the shrinking space for civic expression.

Official government figures put the death toll at at least 42 deaths, with then Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki defending police conduct while acknowledging fatalities.

However, rights organisations, including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and Amnesty International, placed the death toll much higher—at 61.

The same report noted that dozens more were injured, with 67 alleged cases of enforced disappearance and over 1,200 arrests, sparking calls for police accountability and judicial inquiries.

In anticipation of Wednesday’s commemorative events, police have promised adequate protection for those taking part in the anniversary protests and prevent any infiltration by criminal elements.

Nairobi Regional Police Commander George Seda said they have put in place “enhanced plans” to ensure both demonstrators and the general public remain safe.

“What I would like to urge the public is, let’s restrict ourselves to what we call peaceful demonstrations,” he said during a press briefing on June 18

"Let’s not have demonstrations that are going to interfere with other people who may not be part of the demonstrators."

Wednesday’s memorial is expected to draw families of victims, civil society groups, political leaders, and members of the public keen to remember those who lost their lives while exercising their democratic rights.

Beyond mourning, the event will also serve to mount pressure on the police to end brutality against civilians following the June 8 death in a police cell of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang' and the shooting of a face mask vendor Boniface Kariuki during the resultant protests.

The commemorations will be watched closely by both the public and international observers, as Kenyans reflect on a dark chapter in its democratic journey—one that continues to raise uncomfortable questions about police conduct, justice for victims, and the space for dissent.