Ruto advised to act, rather than embrace dialogue to restore Gen Z faith

Six national associations have urged the Kenya Kwanza administration to take decisive executive action to restore Generation Z's faith in the government.

These associations, which include content creators, journalists, lawyers, medical practitioners, and human rights defenders, believe that a state-led national conversation will not be sufficient to regain Gen Z’s confidence.

In a statement on Monday, the associations emphasised that many of the demands raised by the youth require decisive executive action rather than policy dialogue.

Among them were the Kenya Medical Association, the Bloggers Association of Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya, the Kenya Union of Journalists, Medics for Kenya, and the Police Reforms Working Group, a coalition of 21 organisations including the Kenya Section of the International Commission of Jurists, the Independent Medical and Legal Unit, the Kenya Human Rights Commission, the Defenders Coalition, and Amnesty International Kenya.

“We note the State House's announcement of a multi-sectoral conversation to address policy issues raised by the Youth for Kenya (Gen Z) protest movement. Youth for Kenya (Gen Z) has spoken on the urgent need for the state to arrest public theft and a bloated cabinet, invest in essential services, act on those who fired upon unarmed protestors, release those arbitrarily arrested, and put an end to extrajudicial killings, among other demands,” read the statement.

“These actions will bring back confidence in our constitution and governance institutions and create a nation united and driven by our constitutional values.”

The associations urged both the national administration and the 47 county administrations to listen to and act on Gen Z's demands.

“Numerically, they represent the majority of Kenyans and those with the greatest stake in re-directing the current crisis to a more hopeful future for us all,” they said.

The anti-government protests, which started on June 18, 2024, have so far left 24 people dead, 361 injured, 627 arrested, and 32 others abducted.

Plainclothes police officers fire teargas at protesters in Nairobi CBD, aboard an unmarked vehicle as others patrol on a police pick-up during the anti-government protests on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Photo: Hafsa Hassan)

The youngest victim of the fatalities is 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango, who died from gunshot wounds after police officers fired recklessly at protesters in Ongata Rongai during last week’s protests.

President Ruto, during a roundtable meeting with journalists, fumbled after being asked why the baby was shot 8 times. He first asked if the baby was alive before he reacted to his death. This prompted the moderators to wonder why he was out of touch with reality on the ground.

"He is still alive, right?" posed Ruto.

"On the 12-year-old shot with eight bullets, I am telling the mother of this young person that, as president, I will make sure that I give her an explanation of what really happened. I will make sure that we bring this to a situation where, like myself, who has children, her child can be accounted for," he reacted.

His reaction sparked nationwide condemnation, and the six organisations joined in the clamour, demanding that the state cover the medical costs of the injured as it is the government's constitutional duty to provide health services to all, including protestors.

They also called for the government to provide necessary supplies, including ambulances, and guarantee the safety of caregivers during the protests scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

Regarding the abductions, the groups urged the police and military to strictly adhere to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights during the protests.

“The National Police Service must stop criminalising protestors and cease using camouflaged, non-uniformed officers and unmarked cars with concealed licence plates. Abduction and detention differ from arrest. Many of those abducted by state officers were not read the charges against them or booked into a police station. Tens have been held incommunicado and denied access to their families, legal representation, and medical assistance,” they said.

Protesters fighting the Finance Bill, 2024, are pictured on Moi Avenue in the Nairobi central business district on June 25, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki/EV)

The associations further urged the authorities to respect their mandates and stop harassing staff and interrupting legal, medical, and other public services.

They highlighted the significant stress experienced by staff, such as medical personnel, over the past two weeks. They noted that some medical staff were arrested by state officers, and their patient lists were stolen from mobile emergency centres while they were treating the injured.

“Lawyers have been denied access to their clients, arrested, and intimidated by officers of the state to drop cases. Journalists covering the protests have had their cameras confiscated, arrested, and beaten in broad daylight. Staff operating helplines and funds set up to support legal representation and medical assistance have faced several challenges. We end by reaffirming our role to protect all the rights and freedoms in our constitution without fear or favour,” they said.

“We ask that the Kenyan authorities respect our mandates and stop the harassment of our staff and the interruption of legal, medical, and other public services. Security officers must cease the attacks on emergency medical centres and medical personnel.”

The call to action comes despite President William Ruto's willingness to engage in dialogue with the youth on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Thursday, July 4 or Friday, July 5. The youths have engaged in a nationwide protest against the Finance Bill 2024 for two weeks, forcing President Ruto to decline to ascend to it and subsequently withdraw it.

“I am hearing that the young people are saying we don’t want a multisectoral forum, maybe we should have an engagement with the President on X. I am open to having an engagement with the young people on a forum they are comfortable with. If they want me to engage with them on X, I will be there. I want us to discuss taxation, unemployment, corruption, and all issues,” he said during a roundtable media interview on Sunday.