NAIROBI, Kenya Jun 24 – ODM Party leader Oburu Oginga has appealed to Kenyans planning to take part in Thursday’s demonstrations marking the second anniversary of the 2024 Gen Z protests to remain peaceful and respect the rights of other citizens.

Speaking ahead of the June 25 anniversary, Oburu said the Constitution guarantees every Kenyan the right to demonstrate but warned against violence, destruction of property and carrying weapons during protests.

“Let us use Article 37 of our Constitution to demonstrate peacefully,” Oburu said.

His remarks come as the country prepares to commemorate two years since the deadly Gen Z-led protests that rocked Kenya in 2024, culminating in the storming of Parliament and leaving scores of people dead and injured.

Oburu urged demonstrators not to interfere with the freedoms of other Kenyans who may choose not to participate in the protests.

“When you go out to demonstrate, don’t deny other people who are not demonstrating with you their freedoms also to do other things which they are doing. Let them continue with their democratic right to either stay home or go to work,” he said.

The ODM leader also warned protesters against carrying objects that could turn peaceful demonstrations into violent confrontations.

“Don’t carry stones, don’t carry rungus, don’t carry knives, don’t carry machetes, don’t carry pangas,” he stated.

Oburu emphasized that police officers have a duty to protect demonstrators and should not treat them as enemies.

“Police should also be trained to protect people who are demonstrating. The people are not their enemies. The people are their employers, and they should protect them,” he said.

At the same time, he urged protesters to follow legal procedures by notifying police before taking to the streets.

According to Oburu, prior notification allows security agencies to plan adequately and provide protection to demonstrators.

“Come out peacefully and demonstrate and give notice to police, so that police can give you protection,” he said.

The ODM leader noted that demonstrations are meant to communicate public concerns to leaders and institutions, not to provoke confrontations with security officers.

“Don’t regard demonstration to be against police. You are telling the people who should hear you that they have failed to hear you when you are not in the street. Now you want to tell them loudly when you are there in the street,” he explained.

Oburu further argued that protesters can only hold police accountable if they have formally notified authorities about their plans.

“They cannot give you protection if you have not notified them and they don’t know the time you are going to come out to demonstrate,” he said.

The anniversary comes amid renewed calls for justice, accountability and reforms following the historic 2024 anti-government protests.

Thousands of young Kenyans are expected to participate in memorial marches and demonstrations across the country to honour those who lost their lives during the protests.