Willie Oeba accuses govt of politicising Gen Z protests
Spoken word artist and civic educator Willie Oeba has accused the government of deliberately politicising the Gen Z-led protests, asserting that authorities are framing the demonstrations for political gain while ignoring deeper youth grievances.
Speaking during an interview on Friday, June 27, 2025, Oeba said that young people are protesting because of systemic issues, ranging from unemployment to overtaxation, and not because of political paymasters.
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In addition, the activist noted that although some claimed the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was paying people to protest, the real motivators were systemic issues, unemployment, over-taxation, and extrajudicial killings
He emphasised that unless the government addresses the youth’s grievances, people will continue to take to the streets.
“The government is now tribunalling the demonstrations; they are politicising the demonstrations. nimeona watu wakisema in the former deputy president amelipa watu, NO vitu zenye zinapeleka vijana kwa streets in beyond politics, kuna unemployment,overtaxation, extrajudicial killing and until hizi vitu zichange, people will still be on the streets,” Oeba stated.
Oeba on goons
Oeba further said that the June 25, 2025, protesters had been very peaceful. He explained that he was in the streets and saw how protestors restrained anyone who tried to break into shops.
He emphasised that the protesters themselves were not violent; rather, it was these infiltrators who caused trouble, noting that goons were the ones stealing phones from the protestors and looting.
“Protestors were very peaceful because I was in the streets, and ukitry kuvunja duka kama protestors wako hapo, they restrain you from doing it and even goons wengine walikuwa wanaiba simu walikuwa wanasalimiwa. So protestors are very peaceful goons ndio wana infiltrate,” he said.
He added that if the police and government protected the freedom to protest and vigilantly guarded public and private property, then people’s property wouldn’t have been destroyed during the demonstrations.
“And if the police and the government protect the freedom of peaceful demonstrations and expression, police wachunge mali waangalie mali ya watu isiibiwe Police wanapea goons an easy time because they are terrorising peaceful protesters while goons are looting, he added.
