Wednesday's anniversary Gen Z protest is shaping up to be far from peaceful — with evidence pointing to a coordinated attempt by State House-aligned operatives to disrupt the demonstration and smear its young leaders.
An investigation published in the local daily The Standard reveals a network involving senior political figures, UDA staff, digital strategists and even some security units. They allegedly plan to embed masked goons in protest zones, provoke violence, loot personal belongings and present footage that paints Gen Z as lawless rioters.
The tactic appears carefully orchestrated to discredit the movement on its anniversary, which marks the 25 June 2024 protest that shook Nairobi amid outrage over the death of teacher Albert Ojwang’ in custody.
A Secret Operation Revealed
Insiders say the plot involves senior State House appointees and influential MPs from the Rift Valley, together with City Hall staff and parastatal chiefs. Strategies were discussed in covert meetings — including one at Sarova Panafric Hotel ahead of the 17 June protest.
One governor, five MPs and other UDA officials are reportedly assigned specific roles, while alleged State agents coordinate with police to give cover for the goons. Thousands of rungus — wooden clubs — are said to have been collected, transported in police lorries and hidden for deployment in central Nairobi.
Kamket, the MP for Tiaty, stoked alarm by openly calling for clashes, threatening:
“Youth, are you ready… Shall we go to Nairobi? Should we confront them? Let them feel the heat.”
Videos from last week’s protest show masked men armed with clubs and riding boda-bodas, marching alongside uniformed police.
Phone Snatching to Silence Protest
Gen Z leaders have documented mass phone theft at protests. The alleged operation — dubbed Okoa Simu — bribes goons to snatch phones for Sh5,000 per device. Organisers hope to prevent documentation of police brutality and resistance.
Digital operatives, including Antonellah “Nellah” Kakuko, are said to be key to coordination. A former journalist turned UDA strategist, she reportedly manages multiple WhatsApp groups organising the operation. She allegedly raised significant funds and oversees payment to field agents.
“Without phones, they won’t be able to cover the demos,” one of her incendiary online messages warns.
Her command structure is supported by an ICT strategist, Don Kamau, who posted:
“Batons. And let the phones disappear.”
Media and Online Disinformation
Media houses sympathetic to Gen Z, including The Standard and Royal Media, face pre-planned smear campaigns. Hooks include hashtags such as #TheGenocideMedia and #OccupyKTN, reportedly pushed by propaganda wings of UDA and aligned bloggers.
Journalists in recent days have faced verbal assaults online, intimidation and character assassinations — echoing methods used during last year’s protests.
Denials from City Hall
Governor Johnson Sakaja has dismissed claims that his office sponsored hired goons:
“These accusations are false,” he said. “Nothing is further from the truth.”
He accused unnamed political rivals of using the controversy to destabilise the protests with planted agitators.
High Stakes
This launch of violence, theft and misinformation forms part of a new playbook aimed at undermining Gen Z protests without overt state involvement. The operation seeks plausible deniability through proxies.
As tomorrow’s events loom, the stakes have never been higher. Observers warn that such tactics threaten not only the safety of youth protesters, but the credibility of a movement built on transparency, peaceful resistance and truth.
Kenya now watches to see whether tomorrow’s protests will be marred by orchestrated violence — or whether the youth will prove that even in numbers, they remain the heartbeat of authentic change.