His comments have reignited debate about whether recent protests still carry the same energy and influence that was witnessed during the historic June 2024 demonstrations.
In a strongly worded statement, Ngunyi said, “Today’s Maandamano was a TOTAL waste of our NATIONAL IMAGINATION.” He went on to add that there was “No Oomph! No ENERGY.
No PEOPLE as promised. And no GenZ.” According to him, the protests lacked the excitement, organization, and mass participation that had been promised by organizers before the demonstrations began.
Ngunyi’s criticism goes beyond attendance numbers. He appears to be arguing that successful political movements are not built on slogans alone but on genuine public emotion and a strong sense of purpose.
In his view, people cannot be mobilized simply by trying to recreate a previous political moment. The circumstances that inspired citizens in the past may not exist today.
He emphasized this point when he stated, “you CANNOT repeat a political TRICK twice. June 2024 cannot be REPLAYED ever. It was a moment in time. And it was JUSTIFIED.
You cannot REPLAY it.” These words suggest that June 2024 was a unique chapter in Kenya’s political history, driven by specific grievances, public anger, and a powerful youth-led movement that emerged naturally rather than through political planning.
Whether one agrees with Ngunyi or not, his remarks raise an important question about the future of political activism in Kenya.
His message is that history does not repeat itself on command.
Political movements succeed when they connect with the real feelings of the people. For Ngunyi, June 2024 was a defining moment that captured the nation’s attention, but attempting to recreate that same wave without the same conditions may only lead to disappointment.