‘No dialogue, action now!’ Wiper backs Gen Zs, rubbishes Ruto-Raila proposal

The Wiper party has faulted President William Ruto for seeking an engagement with Kenyan youth as a solution for the continued anti-government protests.

The Kalonzo Musyoka-led party, in a statement to newsrooms on Wednesday, took issue with calls to engage the youth saying the current regime is ignorant of the message by Gen Zs which is ‘action now.’

The opposition-affiliated party thus appealed to President Ruto to instead deal with Gen Z concerns by addressing the issues raised through the recent protests rather than pushing to have a meeting with their so-called representatives.

“In terms of the Gen Z revolution, it appears that Ruto lacks an understanding of public sentiment. Generation Z does not wish to engage in dialogue. They want action, and Wiper agrees,” said the party in the statement after a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

The party said the challenges presently plaguing the country are beyond dialogue, and require only implementation.

It also cited the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) formed last year to address issues surrounding Finance Bill 2023, underscoring that despite the committee recommending certain findings, the whole process was inconsequential to the needs of Kenyans at the time.

In the same way, Wiper said the solution would be to implement the needs of Gen Zs to the latter, among them posting of medical interns, dissolving Parliament, and sacking corrupt government officials.

“The current situation in Kenya could have been avoided if the regime had addressed rising living costs and implemented the National Dialogue Committee findings. You don't need dialogue. Dialogue is not required to assess public debt because the Auditor General's Office has the same role,” the statement noted.

“The attempt to usurp the Constitution by forming a task force on the subject is equally telling. You do not need dialogue to post medical interns or to sack corrupt government officials.”

Wiper added: “The sialogue Gen Z and Kenyans are demanding is that Parliament stands dissolved, a snap election being called, and that Ruto go home. And Wiper Democratic Movement agrees.”

The party at the same time committed its support to the Gen Z movement urging them to also consider inviting Kalonzo in social media spaces for engagement purposes.

“We will continue to engage with our youth on all platforms available. We ask our young Wiper Democrats to open up the social media spaces and invite the party leadership including the party leader to them. We want you to take the lead in shaping the conversation here and on the national platform,” said the party.

Wiper’s remarks come after President Ruto and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga pushed for talks with Gen Zs, a move that attracted public uproar and condemnation.

Mr. Odinga on Tuesday faced harsh criticism for backing calls by the President to engage with Gen Zs, where netizens trolled him for purporting to represent them in the said talks.