Parliament Road became a site of quiet remembrance on Tuesday as opposition leaders led by Kalonzo Musyoka held a symbolic wreath-laying ceremony to honour the young people who died during the June 2024 Gen Z protests.

Accompanied by DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa and others, Kalonzo walked from Holy Family Basilica—where they had held prayers outside the church—to the edge of Parliament Road, only to be stopped by a heavy security barricade.

Razor wire and anti-riot police sealed off access to Parliament Square, but the leaders chose not to confront officers.

Instead, under the watch of police, they knelt by the barricade, laid flowers, and observed a moment of silence.

Kalonzo said the simple act was meant to recognise the pain and sacrifice of the youth who lost their lives during last year’s demonstrations and to send a message of national remembrance.

“Today, we just want to remember these young people. We intend to lay wreaths in their memory,” he said.

“Even if we are denied access to Parliament today, this day must be properly commemorated as a national holiday in the future.”

Security was tight across Nairobi, especially around Parliament, as police moved to prevent crowds from gathering in protest. The deployment was part of broader efforts to manage any unrest linked to the one-year anniversary of the anti-Finance Bill demonstrations, in which Gen Z protesters stormed Parliament in an unprecedented show of defiance.

Last year’s protest saw some demonstrators occupy the National Assembly chambers and MPs' dining area, actions that ended with several young lives lost and left the country shaken.

This year, police were determined to avoid a repeat, sealing off key roads and setting up barricades around the legislature. But unlike the chaos of 2024, Tuesday's tribute remained peaceful.

Kalonzo, surrounded by his security team, did not attempt to cross the razor wire. The leaders stood in silence, then offered a brief prayer before retreating from the site.

As the city remained on alert, Kalonzo acknowledged what he called a powerful show of solidarity by Kenyans who chose to stay home in honour of the fallen.

“A lot of Kenyans have chosen to stay at home in sympathy with the June 2024 deaths. It truly feels like a public holiday—there are barricades everywhere,” he said.

Elsewhere, opposition leaders criticised the government's decision to restrict public access to Parliament, calling it unnecessary.

National Assembly Deputy Minority Leader Robert Mbui insisted that public spaces like Parliament belong to the people.

“Parliament can be visited by any citizen—even the State House can be visited by any citizen,” Mbui said.

Though it remains unclear whether more commemorative events will be allowed to proceed, opposition leaders say their message was delivered—and that June 25 should live on as a day of national reflection.