Ezekiel Kyama, the youth widely known as “Mr Speaker Sir” after his dramatic appearance inside Parliament during the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, has dismissed claims that he is a government agent or an operative linked to the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
In a statement shared on his Instagram account, Kyama said he had sought support from several activists after the protests but was unable to secure assistance at the time.
According to him, it was only after reaching out to Embakasi East MP Babu Owino that he received a positive response.
“I tried reaching out to several activists through intermediaries seeking support and guidance. Unfortunately, at that time, no one was in a position to help me. But when I reached Babu Owino, he offered legal assistance in case I face any legal or security-related challenges,” Kyama said.
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The remarks come amid growing online speculation about Kyama’s background and the circumstances surrounding his return to public life after spending months away from the spotlight.
A face of the Gen Z protests
Kyama became one of the most recognisable figures of the Gen Z-led demonstrations that swept across Kenya in June 2024.
His video inside the National Assembly chambers, where he repeatedly addressed the Speaker’s seat, quickly went viral on social media and earned him the nickname “Mr Speaker Sir”.
The protests were organised largely by young Kenyans opposing the Finance Bill 2024, which proposed a range of tax measures. The demonstrations culminated in an unprecedented breach of Parliament on June 25, 2024, an event that became one of the defining moments in Kenya’s recent political history.
According to reports, thousands of young people participated in the nationwide protests, which were mobilised largely through social media platforms under campaigns such as #RejectFinanceBill2024.
Support from Babu Owino
Kyama’s latest statement echoes sentiments previously expressed by Babu Owino, who publicly pledged to support the activist should he face legal challenges linked to his participation in the demonstrations.
The lawmaker has previously argued that young people involved in the protests should be protected and allowed to exercise their constitutional rights without fear of intimidation.
Looking ahead
Kyama has recently re-emerged in public after revealing that he spent nearly two years largely out of public view following the protests.
He has maintained that his participation in the demonstrations was driven by concerns over taxation and the rising cost of living, rejecting suggestions that he acted on behalf of any state agency.
His latest comments add a new chapter to the story of one of the most recognisable faces of Kenya’s Gen Z movement, as debate continues over the legacy of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests and the role played by young activists in shaping national discourse.
