The Linda Mwananchi movement led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has postponed its planned rallies in Kisii and Keroka, which were scheduled for Friday, June 26, 2026, shifting them to Friday, July 3, 2026.
In a statement released on Tuesday June 23, the group said the decision was made as it prepares to join other Kenyans on Thursday June 25, in commemorating victims of the 2024 Gen-Z protests, including those who were killed or forcibly disappeared.
“We wish to inform our members, supporters and the public at large that the Linda Mwananchi Kisii and Keroka rallies scheduled for Friday, June 26, 2026 have been postponed to Friday, July 3, 2026. We will join other Kenyans of goodwill to stand in solidarity with the victims of the Gen-Z protests of 2024 and their families and in remembrance of those who were killed or have forcefully disappeared,” the statement read.
The movement, however, raised concern over what it described as the possibility of police and state-sponsored brutality during the planned commemoration activities, alleging a likelihood of unlawful arrests targeting peaceful participants.
“We are alert to potential police and state-sponsored brutality and violence against the victims and their families during the commemoration activities. We reasonably anticipate unlawful arrests during the peaceful commemoration events,” the statement added.
Linda Mwananchi urged police to ensure the safety of all participants, calling for protection of citizens engaging in peaceful remembrance events.
The group also criticised the government’s approach to compensating victims of the protests, saying the process lacked transparency and accountability, and fell short of delivering justice to affected families.
It further accused the government of excluding constitutionally mandated oversight bodies from the compensation process, arguing that this had deepened the pain of victims’ families and undermined prospects for reconciliation.
“We are deeply disappointed by the government’s decision to offer limited monetary assistance to the victims and their families without ensuring that justice is done and accountability upheld,” said the satement.
In the same statement, Linda Mwananchi also weighed in on recent political developments within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), particularly the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) decision to remove Senator Edwin Sifuna as Secretary-General for a second time.
It described the decision as “unprocedural, unfair and contrary to the party’s constitution,” arguing that it mirrored an earlier attempt made in February that was also challenged.
The group said it had consulted legal teams and would again move to court to challenge the latest ouster, expressing confidence that it would suffer the same fate as the previous decision.
“After consultation with our legal teams earlier this morning, it has been decided to once again test the propriety of the purported ouster in the courts because we are convinced it should suffer the same fate as the first one in February,” the statement concluded.
