Ruto's call for dialogue with Gen Z met with scepticism

The Office of the President's roadmap for the National Multi-Sectoral Forum on Youth Engagement has been widely met with scepticism across the country.

A section of leaders and youth have urged Generation Z (Gen Z) to reject dialogue with the government and remain tribeless, leaderless, and partyless.

This comes despite President William Ruto’s call to engage with the youth protesting against the ‘harsh’ tax laws pushed by his administration, which have led to ongoing protests, loss of lives, and property destruction.

Ruto said he would engage with them to understand their grievances and has proposed forming a working group to address the concerns raised.

“I want to tell you that we are going to have a conversation so that we can identify your issues and work together as a nation,” he said.

The critics have warned the youth against participating in the discussions, citing past grievances brought before the government that have remained unaddressed.

Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba reminded the youth of Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s 2023 protests against the government over high taxation, which ended in concession.

She noted that although Azimio agreed to dialogue, it has yet to yield results.

"After the 2022 General Elections, Baba and his Azimio brigade took to the streets demanding inclusion in the government. They conceded. A National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) was formed, and sessions were held live, where Kenyans shared their opinions. Baba backed down and waited, but it’s been over a year, and the report has neither been debated nor adopted in parliament; it’s gathering dust on the shelves. No wonder we have yet to constitute the IEBC," she said.

Stop wasting time and our resources for consultative meetings that won't help.
Kenya has history with such meetings and commissions of enquiry.
The government already knows our problems, why don't you solve/implement them?
Do you need a consultative meeting to know that your…

— The Kenyan observer (@porciusfestus) June 29, 2024

"Now, Gen Z's have brought national economic concerns to the forefront with their protests. Once again, ‘they’ are conceding and planning to form a new Multisectoral Committee. Allow me to call it NADCO 2. From my experience, any committee reports requiring action by the Kenyan parliament are as dead as a dodo."

Wamuchomba also questioned the status of the fake fertiliser report, which has yet to be released by the National Assembly Committee on Agriculture.

The committee, led by Nyando MP Jared Okello, Matayos MP Geoffrey Odanga, and Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, uncovered a batch of fake fertilizer during a tour of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot on April 27, 2024.

They stated they would compile a report to determine the extent of fake fertilizers infiltrating NCPB depots and farms across the country.

"What happened to the fake fertilizer report? From my experience, I can conclusively say that Parliament is heavily patronized, desecrated, and has lost the credibility of the majority of Kenyans. What do you expect from a parliament that sneaks agendas without going through the House Business Committee as per the standing order?" Wamuchomba posed.

It looks like the government is still not getting it. Kenyans are not asking for a youth engagement forum, they are asking that the government stop corruption and wastage of public money, that the government stop punitive taxation of citizens and businesses, that government…

— Anwar Saddat (@AnuarSaddat) June 29, 2024

She warned that forming a multisectoral committee for Gen Z would be another tactic to buy time and silence the already frustrated youth of Kenya.

"It’s my opinion that this will be another futile effort. No matter how much energy is inputted, no ugali can come out of it," she said.

"To Gen Z, this is your constitutional moment. Those of us before you agree that we were deceived and subdued, which is why systems aren’t functioning in your favour now. My advice is: to seize this moment and press for change. We are looking up to you from afar."

Lawyer Wahome Thuku also urged Gen Z not to be coerced into appointing leaders for any committee or commission.

"GenZs, you are a specific group, defined by age set and nothing else. You are united by similar interests, desires, challenges, aspirations, motivations etc. Don't allow yourselves to be grouped and asked to appoint leaders to some amorphous committee or commission. Unless you want to be finished or to finish yourselves," he warned.

He questioned who, when, where and how the representatives would be appointed to address their issues.

"Let me tell you why your force has been addressed that fast, it's because you have numbers to send anyone home. Don't allow sideshows, please. And don't allow anyone to sit there and claim to represent you," he said.

He encouraged them to continue using their social media platforms as a tool for discussion.

"Use your forums to discuss and agree or disagree on the issues you have. You can even invite the entire cabinet to come there and listen and take notes. You are not holding night meetings and you are not meeting behind closed doors or in Naivasha, you are online," he said.

"Let them go and deal with those issues the best way they know how. Give them the practical solutions but let them go and discuss them in those committees and solve them. Remain tribeless, faceless and fearless. Anything else and you are doomed."