Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria is facing heavy public backlash after claiming that no Gen Z protester died during the violent Saba Saba demonstrations held on July 7, 2025. His remarks, which he said were intended to “comfort” parents, have been met with widespread outrage and accusations of insensitivity and dishonesty.
Kuria’s Controversial Statement
In the aftermath of the nationwide protests, Kuria attempted to downplay the gravity of the government’s response by suggesting that none of the deaths recorded involved members of Generation Z—the youthful demographic largely credited with organizing and leading the protests.
“There is no Gen Z who died,” Kuria stated. “The message to the parents is: your children are safe. It is true that people died, but they were not Gen Z.”
His comments quickly went viral and were condemned by thousands across social media platforms, with Kenyans accusing him of whitewashing the violent crackdown and ignoring the painful realities faced by families who lost loved ones.
Public Outrage
Kenyans online did not mince their words. Many described Kuria’s comments as a “disgrace” and accused him of grossly disrespecting victims and their families.
“You’re a disgrace. People died, and you’re trying to spin it as a PR opportunity?” one commenter wrote.
“Even if one Gen Z died, that’s one life too many,” another added.
For many, Kuria’s statement felt like a calculated political move to deflect growing public anger over the use of excessive force by police during the protests.
The Facts Contradict Kuria
Independent reports by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and police sources confirmed that at least 10 people were killed during the Saba Saba demonstrations, which took place across cities such as Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Meru.
Human rights observers noted that many of those killed or injured were young people, some even in their late teens. Videos and eyewitness accounts show that youth-led protest convoys were among the most heavily targeted by riot police, who deployed live bullets, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse crowds.
Why This Matters
Kuria’s attempt to distance Gen Z from the fatalities is not only factually questionable, but also deeply insensitive, critics argue. For a generation that has taken center stage in organizing peaceful resistance and advocating for justice, such dismissal feels like betrayal from a former senior government official.
His remarks have further strained the relationship between the youth and Kenya’s political elite—already marked by distrust and frustration over unemployment, corruption, and poor governance.
A New Generation of Protest
The 2025 Saba Saba protests, largely mobilized by Gen Z activists, were a modern reflection of the historic July 7, 1990 movement. This time, the demands focused on ending police brutality, addressing economic inequality, and ensuring youth representation in national dialogue.
Despite the heavy-handed response, the protests signaled a powerful shift in civic consciousness. Gen Z has been lauded for using digital platforms to organize, educate, and protest peacefully—something Kuria’s statement seems to overlook entirely.
Conclusion: A Disconnected Leadership?
Moses Kuria’s dismissal of Gen Z deaths in the wake of the Saba Saba protests has only deepened the wounds inflicted by state violence. His comments, widely seen as tone-deaf and misleading, have sparked renewed calls for accountability—not just from security forces, but from politicians who appear out of touch with the very people they claim to represent.
For Kenya’s young activists, the struggle continues—not just in the streets, but against narratives that seek to erase their pain, their presence, and their power.
