The Mt Kenya Times 
Gen-Z protesters
By Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- I have heard you. As your President, I want to promise you that I’m going to address all the issues that you have raised.
- We cannot however sort out these matters in the streets. Let us start talking and engaging.
- I’m soon going to unveil a road map for a national dialogue. This is after wider consultations with Gen-Z and other stakeholder.
- But in a swift rejoinder, Gen-Z rejected the talks. Our movement is leaderless and party less. So, we can only engage you through X-Space. Besides, it is us who will invite you and you will only respond to the questions we will ask you.
After a lull of one week, the young people of Generation-Z have threatened to return back to the streets starting tomorrow.
Reacting to this, President Ruto stated after attending a church service that ”we are going to protect the country”.
I’m sure here the President was referring to the criminal gangs and goons that have in the recent past infiltrated these protests. Hundreds of business people were left counting losses after their businesses were looted and vandalized.
Initially, these protests were peaceful. At the time the President praised the young people for coming out in big numbers to present their grievances.
Kenya is democratic country and it is governed by the rule of law.
Therefore and as stipulated in Article 37 of the constitution, you are free to air your views.
I have heard you. As your President, I want to promise you that I’m going to address all the issues that you have raised.
We cannot however sort out these matters in the streets. Let us start talking and engaging.
I’m soon going to unveil a road map for a national dialogue. This is after wider consultations with Gen-Z and other stakeholder.
But in a swift rejoinder, Gen-Z rejected the talks. Our movement is leaderless and party less. So, we can only engage you through X-Space. Besides, it is us who will invite you and you will only respond to the questions we will ask you.
In his response, the President agreed to their terms. He held a candid conversation with them online.
Despite assuring them that he would address all the issues, Gen-Z and millennials did not wait for the dust to settle. They immediately returned back to the streets.
The #RejectFinanceBill2024 now changed to #RutoMustGoNow.
One can therefore where the President was coming from when he asked the congregants. Have you given me a go-ahead to protect the country? That is what I will do.
It is worth noting that our democracy is anchored on universal suffrage of one-man, one-vote.
The constitution stipulates that the term of the President is five years.
So, if you want to remove him from office, you have to wait until he completes the term.
It does not however mean that the President cannot removed from office. But this power can only be exercised by parliament. The President will go home if a member file a motion of impeachment and it garners support of a two-third majority.
However, the constitution does provide for the removal of democratically-elected President through people or military uprisings.
If this is allowed, the country will go to dog. Anarchy, lawlessness and bloodbath will reign high.
ODM leader Raila Odinga had raised a similar caution. Ruto goes, then what. RutoMustGo cannot be an end.
I cannot sit to see my country plunging into anarchy.
Raila added: In Egypt, people thought they have won after toppling their President through popular uprising.
Today people are crying and regretting. There are no jobs, corruption, inflation and cost of living is very high.
It is worth to note that President Ruto has so far addressed most of demands raised by Generation-Z. One of them is dissolving the entire cabinet. He has since William Ruto has since unveiled the first batch of the cabinet nominees. He has lived up his word. The cabinet is reflecting the face of Kenya and two nominees are Gen zees.
Erick Muriethi, a 32 years old, is the cabinet nominee for Water.
Besides, he is well educated and with the requisite experience.
The prerogative to appoint the cabinet squarely lies with the President.
President Mwai Kibaki had made a similar move. This is after his banana side which supported the draft constitution of 2005 lost to No-Orange side which was led by then Roads minister Raila Odinga.
He recalled some of the ministers when he unveiled his new-look cabinet. President Ruto seemed to have been guided by the same script.
When Gen-Z took to the streets, President Ruto told them.
Besides dissolving the whole cabinet, President Ruto has unveiled a raft of austerity measures and scrapping of unconstitutional offices starting with those of the First Lady and spouse of Deputy President.
He also put on hold the appointment of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs).
Besides, he scrapped confidential accounts and immediately stopped the renovation of government offices. He also stopped top government officials from travelling outside the country. My office will only approve essential trips. He also announced that plans are underway to scrap and merge 47 State Corporations.
The push by the youths is widely perceived as being plan less, anti-infiltration strategy less and post Ruto/transitional less.
These young people are exhibiting dangerous mentality of know-it-all, entitlement and dictatorship.
They have been telling off those who are older than them.
Turning to Politicians and religious leaders, they would tell them.
Stay away. You failed us. We are going to liberate this country and you will reap the fruits of our sweat and blood.
I have been listening to the narratives of Generation-Z and one thing is clear.
They do not understand the history of this country and most of them have little or no knowledge on matters of law and constitutional imperatives.
I heard one of them lecturing a group old people. “Our plan is to force President Ruto to resign. We are going to replace him with former CS Fred Matiangi (President) and former CS Mutahi Kagwe as DP”.
This Gen-Z did not want to be corrected.
But for those who care to listen, this is what will happen.
The constitution provides that the Deputy President takes over and serve for the remainder of the term. If Gen-Z does not want Gachagua, then it means the military will take over.
Those who have been ruled my military in other countries would tell you. This is the worst form of governance. It is dictatorial, oppressive and ruthless.
It is not a guarantee that the military will soon agree to hand over power back to civilians.
The crisis can worsen and take long before it is resolved.
Remember the military will have an upper hand during the negotiations.
So, the other question is. Who will they hand over power to? The power might end up in the wrong hands.
This is what happened in countries such as Egypt, Chad, Sudan, Mali.
The citizens thought they have won after toppling their respective President through popular uprising.
But alas, the worst form of dictatorship creeped back.
Though Generation-Z and millennials have been reiterating that they have no time for the opposition leaders, the leaders are still supporting them.
To me, they are simply doing this for political reasons.
If the game plan of Gen-Z succeeds, they think they will immediately step out and fill the vacuum.
This is a wishful thinking. Who told them that Gen-Z will just step aside?
While being bouyed by the triumph, they will come out to fight for their space.
I’m sure they will still stood their ground that you are old and have been at helm of power. So, you are part of the problem. Your time is over.
This will create confusion and plunge our country into anarchy.
Let me give opposition leaders in Kenya free advice. As media reports indicated, Generation-Z were not alone. They were powerful people who were pulling the string from behind.
These are the same people who will advise them not to give way.
I’m happy majority of Kenyans have realized the danger of toppling President Ruto.
Their position is clear. President Ruto has heard you. He has so far addressed most of your demands.
Kenya is a democratic country and it is governed by rule of law.
We elected President Ruto to serve for a term of five years. We know Gen-Z has taught him a lesson. Let give him to time to do his job.
It is not too late in the day. He still have time to redeem and spruce up his image.
Come 2027 polls, you will ignore him at your own peril. He stands a high chance of getting re-elected to serve his second and final term.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga Is A Writer And Political Analyst Based In Nairobi
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