Henry Ohanga, popularly known as Octopizzo, has released a poignant new track titled June 25, a powerful anthem that memorialises the Gen Z-led protests against Kenya’s 2024 Finance Bill.
Sharing the release on Instagram, Octopizzo wrote, “It is a raw, urgent track that captures a critical moment in Kenya’s political uprising, blending real audio from interviews with mothers who lost their children, reporters, and public figures. It is more than a song—it’s a time capsule.”
He continued, “A document of grief, resistance, and survival, straight from the streets. This moment embodies a complex duality—marked with both sorrow and reverence—and will remain indelibly inscribed in our consciousness. May the souls of the departed serve as an enduring source of guidance and reflection.”
The protests reached a tragic peak on 25th June 2024, when demonstrators stormed Parliament in Nairobi in a show of resistance.
The government’s response was brutal, with security forces opening fire, leading to the deaths of several young protesters.
Octopizzo has now channelled that experience into June 25, stating that he was physically present during the protests. “I was in the street and in Parliament, where I saw people being slaughtered,” he revealed.
The rapper has also spoken out about the BBC documentary Blood Parliament, directed by Ademba, which explores the same harrowing events.
“Watching that BBC documentary shattered me. How can it almost be a year, and not a single person has been held accountable? It makes you question whether the judiciary—or the law itself—was ever real,” he wrote.
“We keep pushing technology forward like it’s everything, yet humanity and justice are rotting away even faster. It’s gutting. It’s like watching hope die in real time. Kids being killed for having an opinion.”
He went on to criticise the justice system further: “It’s true the judiciary doesn’t initiate prosecution, but we must also admit the system itself is part of the problem. Human rights organisations have already submitted substantial evidence to the courts.”
Beyond music, Octopizzo continues to champion personal growth and empowerment. He recently launched YGB WEAR, a fashion label that promotes the ethos Young, Gifted, and Black.
He also leads Chocolate City Tours, an initiative offering cultural and educational experiences in Kibera.
by allan muriithi
