Young Man Who Stormed Parliament During Gen Z Protests Resurfaces After Nearly Two Years In Hiding
Local News Updated: 27 May 2026 20:58 EAT
Many thought he had been eliminated by the state,but the daring Gen Z is back, safe and ready to start a new life, his name is Chama popularly known as "Mr speaker sir"
The young Kenyan man whose dramatic entry into Parliament during the June 25, 2024 Gen Z protests became one of the defining images of the anti-government demonstrations has resurfaced after reportedly spending nearly two years in hiding following the deadly crackdown that followed the protests.
The protester rose to national prominence after videos and photographs captured demonstrators breaching Parliament security barriers shortly after MPs passed the controversial Finance Bill 2024. Images of protesters occupying sections of Parliament spread rapidly across social media and became a lasting symbol of the Gen Z-led uprising.
The June 2024 protests began as demonstrations against proposed tax hikes contained in the Finance Bill but quickly evolved into a broader movement driven by frustrations over the high cost of living, unemployment, corruption and government spending. Thousands of young Kenyans mobilized through social media platforms including X, TikTok and Instagram.
On June 25, protesters overwhelmed police guarding Parliament and entered the parliamentary precincts moments after lawmakers approved the Finance Bill. Parts of the complex were vandalized and set on fire as security agencies struggled to contain the unrest in central Nairobi.
Human rights organizations later reported that police used tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition to disperse protesters. Amnesty International and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights documented multiple deaths, injuries and arrests linked to the demonstrations.
The protests triggered international concern, with foreign missions, the United Nations and civil society organizations urging restraint and calling for investigations into alleged police brutality and enforced disappearances linked to the unrest.
President William Ruto later declined to sign the Finance Bill into law following sustained public pressure and nationwide protests. The withdrawal of the bill was widely viewed as a major victory for the youth-led movement that had organized largely without formal political leadership.
Despite the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, demonstrations continued across several towns under the slogan “Ruto Must Go,” with activists demanding accountability, economic reforms and justice for victims of police violence during the protests.
Several activists linked to the Gen Z demonstrations later claimed they had gone into hiding due to fears of arrest, intimidation and abductions. Human rights groups repeatedly raised concerns over the safety of protest organizers and outspoken online activists in the months that followed.
The resurfacing of the young man associated with the Parliament breach has revived memories of one of the most significant youth-led political uprisings in Kenya’s recent history, with analysts describing the Gen Z protests as a defining moment in the country’s modern democratic movement.
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD