Julius Malema Slams Ruto over Police Brutality, Declares Support for Gen Z: "Face the People"
- Julius Malema and his EFF party condemned President William Ruto's regime for using force on peaceful Gen Z protesters
- The EFF accused the Kenyan government of suppressing dissent and banning media coverage to conceal state brutality
- Malema expressed full solidarity with Kenyan youth, praising their defiance against economic injustice and corruption.
- The EFF cited KNCHR reports showing eight were killed and hundreds injured during the June 25 protests across Kenya
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
South African opposition leader Julius Malema has slammed President William Ruto’s regime over police brutality, media censorship, and repression during Kenya's June 25 protests.
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The opposition leader and his Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party accused the government of silencing dissent and violating fundamental rights.
In a scathing statement issued on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the EFF accused Ruto of unleashing violence against peaceful demonstrators marking the first anniversary of the 2024 protests.
The movement, initially triggered by the now-withdrawn IMF-backed Finance Bill, has evolved into a broader youth-led push against state corruption, economic inequality, and impunity.
"The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemns, in the strongest terms, the brutal repression of peaceful protesters, the censorship of independent media, and the escalating authoritarianism of the regime led by President William Ruto in Kenya," the statement read in part.
Malema expresses solidarity with Kenyan Gen Z
Malema’s party praised Kenyan youth for their courage and resilience in standing up to what they described as a regime "committed to profit over people".
"The EFF, therefore, once again declares its full solidarity with the youth of Kenya as we did last year in their fight against austerity through the Finance Bill. This is a generation that refuses to bow, refuses to be silenced, and refuses to accept a future stolen by corrupt elites," the party stated.
According to the EFF, the Finance Bill was just the tip of the iceberg, and the government’s subsequent crackdown on dissent has exposed a deeper crisis of governance.
The EFF pointed to fresh reports from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), which indicate that at least eight people were killed in the June 25 protests alone.
As per the report, more than 400 others were injured across the country, many of them hit by live bullets or physically assaulted.
Victims reportedly include not only demonstrators but also journalists and some police officers caught in the chaos.
Why did Malema accuse Ruto of desperation?
In a direct swipe at Ruto, the EFF called out the government for ordering a live broadcast ban during the protests.
The directive, issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), was framed as a constitutional measure.
Source: Facebook
But Malema’s party argued it was a calculated attempt to silence dissent and conceal state-sponsored violence from the public eye.
"In a further act of desperation, President Ruto directed the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) to ban all live broadcasts of the protests, citing a deliberate misreading of the Constitution which, in fact, protects freedom of expression and media independence. This act of media censorship was immediately challenged and suspended by the High Court, but it revealed the government's true intent: to control the narrative, hide its crimes, and rule by fear," the EFF added.
The EFF called for immediate reforms, urging Ruto to end state violence, lift all restrictions on media and hold those responsible for the killings and injuries accountable.
Has Malema always stood by Kenyan youth?
This is not the first time Malema has stood with Kenyan protesters.
The EFF also expressed solidarity during the 2024 protests.
Malema called on African leaders to respect the rights of the youth and protect democratic spaces across the continent.
Soon after the 2022 General Election, the outspoken South African politician called on Raila Odinga to concede defeat and leave the stage for young leaders.
Malema's remarks irked a section of Raila's supporters, who went on a ranting spree, asking him to desist from commenting on Kenyan politics and focus on his own political ambitions in South Africa.
The EFF leader has styled himself as a Pan-Africanist advancing the African agenda on the continent.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
