Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, through his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), has condemned the brutal police response to the June 25 protests that left 11 people dead and dozens injured.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, DCP outlined three urgent demands: an immediate halt to police brutality, the full restoration of media operations and justice for families mourning loved ones lost during the protests.
“What we witnessed is not just unconstitutional—it is immoral,” read the DCP statement. “The blood of our youth should not be the price of accountability.”
The party also blasted the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) for what it termed “State-sponsored censorship.”
This was after the CA on Wednesday ordered all television and radio stations to cease live coverage of the protests.
The directive was swiftly followed by a raid on the transmission facilities of NTV and KTN, taking both broadcasters off air. The High Court has since issued conservatory orders blocking the CA’s move, allowing the affected media houses to resume operations.
“This is a blatant assault on press freedom,” said the DCP, accusing the state of violating constitutional protections and silencing voices at a time when transparency is most needed.
The DCP further criticized law enforcement for excessive force, citing footage that captured police officers shooting aunarmed protesters and assaulting civilians in multiple locations. Among the 11 confirmed casualties were a Form Three student, a man, and a young child from Mukuru and Pipeline estates, Nairobi.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) also confirmed the use of live bullets by officers, condemning the shootings as “a gross abuse of power and a violation of human rights.”
DCP pledged solidarity with Gen Z protesters and members of the press, while calling on the government to not only deliver justice but also compensate bereaved families from both the 2024 and 2025 protest casualties.
The June 25 protests were a tribute to Gen Z demonstrators killed during last year’s demonstrations. Participants had hoped to deliver petitions to Parliament and the Office of the President, but their attempts were blocked as authorities sealed off key locations in Nairobi’s CBD with razor wire and barricades.
“No barricade can stop a generation demanding change,” said the DCP.
