Orengo Rides Through Nairobi with Kenyan Flag as Gen Z Protest Anniversary Draws Crowds

Siaya Governor James Orengo joined demonstrators in Nairobi on Thursday as Kenyans marked the second anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, riding through the city centre on a motorbike while waving a large Kenyan flag.

The veteran opposition leader was seen travelling through the Central Business District as crowds gathered near Parliament for commemorations honouring those killed during the 2024 demonstrations. Video of the moment circulated widely online, highlighting the continued visibility of the Gen-Z-led movement that emerged during the protests.

Orengo was among several opposition figures who attended the event, alongside Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua. Hundreds of people took part in activities that included laying wreaths near Parliament, where protesters breached the parliamentary chamber during debate on the Finance Bill two years ago.

Addressing supporters, Kalonzo commended participants for maintaining peace despite a heavy security presence and widespread road closures around the capital. He urged demonstrators to remain disciplined and calm throughout the commemorations.

The anniversary events took place under heightened security, with police erecting barricades and roadblocks around key government buildings. Authorities sought to prevent a repeat of the unrest that accompanied the 2024 protests, while demonstrators said the anniversary should provide an opportunity for national reflection and renewed calls for accountability and reform.

Meanwhile, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua renewed allegations of an assassination plot against him. In a statement issued on Wednesday, he claimed that a police unit known as “Nairobi Sierra” had regrouped in Mathira ahead of the anniversary and was preparing to carry out violence in Nyeri County.

Gachagua described the unit as a “killer squad” and alleged that it first targeted him in January during a church service in Othaya, where teargas disrupted worshippers. He further claimed that the group had expanded from 12 to 15 members and continued to operate while presenting its activities as efforts to maintain order.

The allegations form part of a series of claims made by Gachagua over the past two years, including assertions that he has been the target of poisoning attempts and other plots. Government officials have repeatedly rejected the claims and maintained that any such allegations should be independently investigated and supported by evidence.