LSK boss Kanjama faults Suluhu, Ruto deal to tame Gen-Z protests

On Monday, May 4, during a joint address at State House, Dar es Salaam, President Suluhu urged her Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, to jointly deal with Gen Zs agitating for good governance. 

She opined that youth in the East African bloc are becoming notorious for calling for astute governance and for demanding that they be tamed.

"There is no need to be divided, to celebrate the vices that happen on either side. If they show up in Kenya, they are ours as well, and we should jointly deal with them, and the same should be done in Tanzania," she stated. 

"The word democracy should not taint our countries and our cultures. It has no formula. Your democracy is not the same as our democracy."

Following her remarks, Senior Counsel Kanjama noted that respect for human rights is essential for democracy to be upheld. 

"Kenya’s legal framework does not permit the use of force, coercion or punitive measures against citizens for the peaceful exercise of their rights. Articles 27, 28 and 29 protect equality, dignity, and freedom from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. These safeguards are absolute."

The LSK rejected any calls by the Heads of State to unite in taking disciplinary measures against any youth uprising.  

"Constitutional rights are not negotiable, and they are not subject to suppression in the name of order. Any attempt to undermine these freedoms will be met with firm institutional resistance through legal, civic and regional accountability mechanisms," said LSK President.

He called on the governments within the East African region to engage constructively with citizens instead of abusing their rights.