KISUMU, Kenya jun 24 – Residents from several estates in Kisumu on Wednesday staged peaceful marches and public rallies urging young people to avoid the planned Gen Z anniversary demonstrations and instead promote peace and stability.

The residents, drawn from areas including Mamboleo, Manyatta, Migosi, Nyalenda and Kondele, walked through major streets carrying white handkerchiefs and placards bearing messages of peace as the country prepared for nationwide protests scheduled for Thursday.

The peace gatherings were led by Kajulu Ward MCA Ben Adega, who said Kisumu had maintained relative calm and should not be exposed to violence or destruction.

“Kisumu has remained peaceful and we want to preserve that peace for the sake of our people and the development of our region,” Adega said.

The MCA commended the broad-based government arrangement, saying it had contributed to increased development projects across Kisumu and the wider Nyanza region.

He pointed to ongoing affordable housing projects, road infrastructure works and healthcare investments as examples of progress residents were currently benefiting from.

Adega specifically cited the construction of the Mamboleo-Miwani-Chemelil-Muhoroni road as a sign of continued government investment in the region’s infrastructure.

He further appealed to residents to continue supporting President William Ruto’s administration, arguing that cooperation with the national government would open up more economic and development opportunities.

At the busy Kondele Roundabout, hundreds of women gathered to urge young people to stay away from the demonstrations, expressing fears that protests could once again lead to deaths, injuries and destruction of businesses.

Trader Perez Osata said many mothers were concerned about the safety of their children following violent incidents witnessed during previous protests.

“As mothers, we do not want our children risking their lives in demonstrations that could turn chaotic,” she said.

She added that traders and small business owners often suffer heavy losses whenever unrest breaks out in the city.

Youth leader Davis Orege also called for peaceful engagement, saying many young people had lost their lives during earlier demonstrations.

“I have personally lost friends during protests and I do not want to see more young people dying in Kisumu,” he said.

Orege encouraged fellow youth to seek alternative ways of expressing their concerns instead of participating in street protests.

The residents also criticised recent remarks by Siaya Governor James Orengo, arguing that some political statements could encourage more youth to join demonstrations.

Nyalenda women leader Sarah Opiyo said communities in Kisumu had repeatedly suffered whenever protests erupted, with young people bearing the greatest burden.

“Many families have lost their children during protests while some leaders who mobilise them are nowhere to be found when tragedy strikes,” she said.

Participants in the peace marches moved through major roads waving white handkerchiefs and singing songs calling for unity, peace and coexistence.

The demonstrations come amid heightened political activity across the country ahead of the anniversary of last year’s Gen Z protests.

While organisers of Thursday’s protests have maintained that the demonstrations will be peaceful, leaders and residents in Kisumu continue to appeal for restraint, insisting that peace and development should remain the region’s top priority.