In a sombre address laden with emotion and urgency, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday urged Kenya’s Gen Z protest movement to abandon the streets and instead fight for change through the ballot.

Speaking to journalists in Nairobi, Gachagua said he was moved to speak out after witnessing the deadly toll of recent protests, which have rocked the country and left dozens dead.

“I want to appeal to our young people, the Gen Zs,” he said. “I ask my children, my sons and daughters, to consider a different path. Because I fear for them. Any time they go out on the streets, they are killed like chicken.”

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From Streets to Strategy

Gachagua, now leading the newly formed Democracy for Citizens Party, is calling for a shift in strategy. He urged the youth to channel their frustration by registering for national ID cards and preparing to vote in the 2027 General Election.

“Join us in the opposition. Let us do this the right way,” he said. “And in 2027, we will be sure to remove President William Ruto.”

His remarks come just days after the country marked Saba Saba Day, traditionally a symbol of democratic resistance. This year’s protests turned deadly. While the government confirmed 11 deaths, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights put the figure at 31.

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Ruto’s Hardline Response

On the same day, President William Ruto issued a warning to protest organisers, drawing a line between peaceful demonstrations and what he described as criminal behaviour.

“Kenyans who attack police officers, security installations and businesses are terrorists,” Ruto said while touring a police housing project in Kilimani. “Such criminal acts are a declaration of war. We will not allow our country to be destroyed by retrogressive elements.”

The President’s words echoed a wider government crackdown. On Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions approved terrorism charges against 37 people arrested during the June 25 protests. They also face alternative counts of arson and property damage.

The DPP said the decision followed an “independent review” of case files, though rights groups have raised concerns about the use of anti-terror laws against demonstrators.

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Tensions Rising, Youth Unyielding

Kenya’s Gen Z has been at the heart of the protests, fuelled by anger over corruption, rising unemployment, and what many view as a broken social contract. The demonstrations have no formal leadership, and many protesters have turned to social media to organise and share updates.

While some praised Gachagua’s plea for strategy over sacrifice, others expressed scepticism, pointing out that voting has often brought little change in a system plagued by political betrayal.

Still, his call adds weight to a growing conversation about how best to demand accountability in a country where peaceful protests are increasingly met with force.

“Let us not lose more young lives,” Gachagua said. “Let’s outvote them. Not outbleed them.”