Kaluma: Gen Z movement died in June 2024, criminals now exploiting it

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has sparked fresh debate after claiming the Gen Z movement has ended and that criminals are now using it as a cover for unlawful activities.

In a statement posted on X on July 14, 2025, Kaluma stated that the original Gen Z movement, a powerful wave of youth-led protests, was “conceived by civil society, implemented by the People, and encouraged by religious leaders and the media.”

You might also like

Entertainment

Beef season 2 to unpack the growing divide between Gen Z and Millennials in a tense new story

Entertainment

How TikTok is minting Kenya’s newest celebrities faster than TV ever did

Lifestyle

Come we stay: Inside the rise of Gen Z couples on TikTok

However, he argued that the true Gen Z protests ended before 25 June 2024.

“Now we have hardcore criminals roaming the streets and sanitising their subversive activities against the State by calling themselves ‘Gen Z’,” Kaluma wrote.

He called for children to be protected from the growing unrest, warning that young people were being used as shields by individuals engaging in vandalism, looting, and attacks on police officers. He praised several regions, including Nyanza, Rift Valley, and Coast, for keeping children off the streets, and urged the Mt. Kenya region to follow suit.

“It is our sacred duty to protect our children from harm,” he added. “Don’t play regional politics with the children!”

Kaluma’s remarks come after weeks of unrest across Kenya, led largely by young protesters demanding better governance, accountability, and an end to police brutality. Demonstrations intensified during the 35th anniversary of the historic Saba Saba protests on July 7, with at least 11 people reported dead and hundreds arrested.

Protests marred by violence

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has accused police of using excessive force, including collaborating with armed gangs and abducting protesters. At the same time, some protests have turned violent, with incidents of arson, looting, and clashes with police.

In his post, Kaluma expressed concern that the chaotic scenes were making it hard for law enforcement to distinguish between genuine protesters and criminals.

“Police cannot enforce law and order effectively when innocent children are caught in the crossfire,” he said.

The protests, which began as a youth-led call for reforms, have evolved into a national conversation about justice, democracy, and state accountability, issues that remain unresolved.

“God bless all our children. God bless Kenya,” Kaluma concluded.