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Protestors being sprayed by water cannon from anti riot police during the gen z 1st anniversary protests in Nairobi on June 25th 2025.[Collins Oduor, Standard]
 

On the day Kenyans commemorated the first anniversary of Gen Z protests, the National Assembly was forced to prematurely adjourn its morning sitting over fears of a second breach of Parliamentary precincts by youth.

Earlier in the morning, Interior and National Coordination Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had toured the area, which saw reinforcement of the precincts with razor sharp barbed wire. 

A morning session that had taken off under heavy police presence was prematurely cut off after business due to the absence of the movers of six motions and sponsors of four bills. 

The  morning session which is ordinarily adjourned at 1pm yesterday ended at 11:45am, an hour and 15 minutes before time. The Presiding Speaker David Ochieng was forced to defer the motions and Bills to another sitting.

Earlier in the morning the Public Investment Committee on Governance and Education chaired by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, and the Environment, Forestry and Mining Committee chaired by Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka were also put off.

Some motions that were to be considered included one on implementation of universal health coverage and of a policy on mandatory use of public health care facilities by public officers by nominated MP Sabina Chege, MP Tim Wanyonyi’s motion on formulation of a land use policy on zoning of land for agriculture and built development, and another by MP Abdi Shurie on allocation of HELB funds to support students enrolled at Kenya Medical Training College. 

Among the Bills up for consideration are The County Governments (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No. 25 Of 2023) co-sponsored by MP Timothy Toroitich, The Breastfeeding Mothers Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 8 Of 2024) by Sabina Chege and The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 21 Of 2024) by MP Didmus Barasa.

“The time being fifteen minutes to midday, this House stands adjourned until today 2.30pm PM,” said Ochieng. Parliament had been considering the Supplementary Budget Estimates III for the 2024/2025 financial year but by the time the House rose, only 10 MPs were in the chambers.

And immediately the House rose, long convoys of parliamentary staff and MPs could be seen yet again sneaking out the premises through the underground tunnel.

The Sh150 million and five-meter-wide tunnel that lies beneath a section of Harambee Avenue once again proved a welcome escape route for the MPs. Insiders revealed that an advisory had been issued to all MPs and staff on duty to vacate the premises “as soon as they could”. 

PIC Education and Governance Committee chairman Jack Wamboka said the committees had been cancelled due to the unavailability of witnesses. “We had planned to hold the committee sittings but our witnesses communicated that they could not make it given the ongoing protests,” he said.

The urgency, speed and fashion within which the MPs vacated Parliament however betrayed the fear reigning in Parliament yesterday. By afternoon, all MPs had left Parliament.

Within the precincts, armed officers run up and down fending off a section of youth who had tried to enter Bunge towers side of Parliament. Outside the main Parliament Buildings which were breached by protesters on June 25, 2024, were fortified with razor wire, with armed officers stationed at all access points. General Service Unit officers barricaded all round-about leading to Parliament road while helicopters could be heard flying above the august House in intervals.

At the same time, opposition leaders yesterday criticised the government over its handling of the protests meant to honour over 60 Kenyans killed during last year’s protests.

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka led opposition leaders Eugene Wamwala and a host of other grassroots leaders in commemoration of the Kenyans killed last year.

Shortly before the laying of a wreath along Parliament road, Kalonzo held a press briefing outside the Holy Family Basilica church where he spoke out against state-backed killing of the youths and abductions that rocked the country.

"You cannot let gangs run the streets while police collaborate with them. We will not allow this country to descend into such lawlessness,” said Kalonzo.

“It is also wicked to abduct citizens without warrants. We must say no to this and seek legal redress where necessary,” he added.

Eugene Wamalwa said: “This level of deployment speaks to a paranoid regime…But as the people's opposition, we stand with the people and not the powerful.” By Josphat Thiong’o, The Standard

An aerial view of Nairobi City's skyline in 2023. Photo Eyeconic Media 

The Iranian Embassy in Nairobi has come out to deny reports linking the Islamic Republic of Iran to alleged terror plots in Kenya.

In a statement released on Wednesday, June 25, the Embassy termed the reports as baseless and politically motivated, while pointing an accusing finger at an unnamed adversary. 

The response followed media reports, which cited an alleged statement from the National Intelligence Service, which allegedly warned of potential terror threats during the anniversary of the June 25 protests.

"In light of a statement attributed to the National Intelligence Service (NIS) of Kenya circulated by a few local news platforms, the Spokesperson of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Nairobi wishes to state that Such delusional and fabricated scenarios are the product of hostile elements," the statement read in part.

The Embassy further emphasised that Iran had no operatives aligned with such activities, adding that Iran enjoyed close diplomatic ties with Kenya.

“As one of the primary victims of terrorism, the Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently fought against terrorist organisations such as Daesh (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda,” the embassy said. 

Iran, through the Embassy, also sent a warning to Kenya against publishing unverified security reports, which were likely to cause alarm and potentially severe diplomatic ties.

As far as conflict is concerned, Iran has been embroiled in an escalating war with Israel, in a battle that has left hundreds dead and thousands either injured or displaced.

The conflict, which erupted on June 13, dragged on for two weeks before a curious ceasefire was agreed upon on June 24 with the help of international mediators, including Qatar.

Both countries have pointed an accusing finger at each other, with Iran accusing Israel of "Zionist aggression." Israel, meanwhile, has insisted it was simply protecting itself against hostile proxies and Iranian expansionism in the region. 

In Kenya, the June 25 protests went on as planned, although several unfortunate incidents of destruction of property and violent clashes between police officers and protesters were witnessed across the country.

Kenya's capital of Nairobi was a hotspot for running battles for most of the day on Wednesday, with several protesters reportedly injured in the mayhem. By Rene Otinga, Kenyans.co.ke

Kenya Editors’ Guild Zubeidah Kananu and Secretary General Kenya Union of Journalists Erick Oduor.

The Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG) has condemned a directive issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to ban live broadcasts of the ongoing Gen Z-led protests.

In a statement, the editors described the directive as a gross violation of the Constitution and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

 

“This directive is a gross violation of the Constitution and an affront to press freedom and public accountability. KEG demands immediate withdrawal, CA must rescind this illegal directive without delay,” stated the Guild’s editor, Zubeidah Kananu.

Citing Articles 33 and 34 of the Constitution, Kananu stated that freedom of expression and the media are only limited in cases involving hate speech, incitement to violence, or propaganda for war. 

Kananu further urged the Communications Authority to comply with court orders that had previously restrained it from interfering with live media broadcasts.

“By ignoring this ruling, CA is actively undermining judicial authority and reopening the door to unconstitutional state censorship,” she added.

Echoing similar sentiments, the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) has also condemned the directive and urged media houses to defy the order.

“We remind the CA that, according to the recent High Court ruling, it lacks the mandate to regulate broadcast content. The notice by CA not only threatens the sustainability of responsible journalism but also risks eroding the media's ability to fulfil its duty to society in a landscape where reporting is protected and not undermined by political pressures,” KUJ stated.

The union warned that attempts to disrupt or suspend internet services violate constitutional rights and the rule of law. 

“It is for this reason that we are calling upon all media houses to defy this directive and continue with their normal programming without fear,” KUJ directed.

Additionally, KUJ condemned the shooting of NTV journalist Ruth Sarmwei with a rubber bullet while she was covering protests in Nakuru on Tuesday.

Also weighed in, Public Service Governance CEO Esther Waringa, also condemning the incident, terming it a threat to press freedom and public trust. 

Waringa urged the government to reconsider the directive, saying, “The directive to restrict or halt live broadcasting by media houses during this critical period is deeply concerning. Such actions risk further inflaming public sentiment and may unintentionally erode the very trust we are striving to rebuild.” By Sharon Wanga, The Standard

Arts subject teachers began striking in early June over salary disparities, earning less than half of what their colleagues in other subjects receive

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, has advised government to table a supplementary request to Parliament to address the pay disparities between science and arts teachers. 

He offered the advice during plenary on Tuesday, 24 June 2025, wherein he warned that arts and humanities teachers across the country had gone on strike, demanding pay equity and the matter needs to be addressed.

Ssenyonyi also said that curbing public corruption would unlock the much needed funds. “The IGG says we lose over Shs 10 trillion to corruption every year. Stop stealing taxpayers’ money and there will be money to pay the teachers,” he said.

Arts subject teachers began striking in early June over salary disparities, earning less than half of what their colleagues in other subjects receive. 

“They are saying they are teachers too, just like the science teachers, but they have been discriminated against severely. They have warned that they are not going to carry out assessments, and that is a big concern for our young people who are in school,” Ssenyonyi said.

According to available information, graduate science teachers earn Shs4 million while diploma holders earn Shs3 million. Most arts teachers meanwhile earn below Shs1 million.

Teachers with similar qualifications and workloads, the leader of the Opposition noted, were being paid grossly unequal salaries, with arts teachers earning up to four times less than their science counterparts.

“We are happy science teachers got a raise. But you cannot do it for some and not others,” he argued.

He further pointed to absurd situations where headteachers with arts qualifications supervise science teachers who earn more than them, calling it a “management crisis.”

He also cited the Auditor General’s report for the year ending 2024, which revealed that retired science teachers receive pensions higher than the monthly net pay of currently serving arts teachers.

In response, the Government Chief Whip, Hon. Denis Hamson Obua, confirmed that engagements between the education ministry and the leadership of arts teachers were ongoing.

“There is no intimidation at all, we believe in dialogue and consensus,” he assured the House.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa who chaired the House acknowledged the urgency of the matter and asked the sector minister to update the House once negotiations conclude.

The Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. Chrysostom Muyingo, said the ministry had held a number of meetings with the teachers and that their leadership had agreed to suspend the strike.

“Government is committed to raise the salaries of all our public servants in a fair manner,” Muyingo said, promising feedback from consultations by Thursday.

Meanwhile Hon. Sarah Opendi (NRM, Tororo District Woman Representative) added her voice to the debate, highlighting equally pressing concerns about pay disparities among government lawyers.

“There is a serious pay disparity among the lawyers working in the police force and other lawyers in government,” Opendi said.

She warned that the discrepancy was fueling an exodus of legal officers from the Uganda Police Force to other departments, particularly the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General’s Chambers, where pay is significantly higher.

“This matter was presented here. The last time, the Attorney General said they had appealed. I want to confirm, there is no active appeal,” she said.

The Deputy Speaker backed her call and directed that the Attorney General update the House on the issue. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

A section of protestors climb a statue along Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

"This is therefore to direct all television and radio stations to stop any live coverage of the demonstrations forthwith. Failure to abide by this directive will result in regulatory action as stipulated in the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998," it added.

Hundreds of protestors took to the streets on Wednesday to mark a year since the anti-finance demonstrations that left tens of young Kenyans dead. 

In Nairobi, senior political figures, including former Chief Justice David Maraga and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka joined the protests, as did Eugene Wamalwa, leader of the Democratic Alliance of Kenya (DAP-Kenya), Busia Senator Okiyah Omtatah, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.

However, moments later, chaos erupted in the city's Central Business District (CBD) following a confrontation between protesters and anti-riot police officers, with the police firing tear gas in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators.

Maraga, who addressed the Press moments after touching down in CBD, castigated the excessive use of force on protestors by the police, stressing that such actions contravened the constitution.

"We strongly condemn the use of state violence against grieving families and peaceful protesters. The flagrant violation of the Constitution and human rights must stop," Maraga said. 

In a statement earlier today, the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen urged Kenyans to prioritise peace while demonstrating. Murkomen said that the security agencies will remain committed to protecting critical infrastructures and businesses. 

“As you go about your daily activities, be assured that your safety and the protection of your livelihoods are our top priority,” Murkomen said.

"For those who will turn up to exercise their constitutional right to demonstrate, we urge them to do so peacefully and unarmed as provided for in our laws. Peace is the foundation for a strong and prosperous Nation; let us all join hands to uphold it," he added. By Ken Muthomi, Kenyans.co.ke

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