Our children, please don't rub it in, it is enough - Gachagua to Gen Zs

Speaking during a church service at PCEA in Kayole, Nairobi, Gachagua noted that the demonstrations have been infiltrated by criminals who end up destroying property and causing chaos. 

He explained that President William Ruto’s administration has heard the Gen Zs demands and will require time to fulfil his mandate. 

“To our children, please we plead with you that you don’t need to rub it in, it’s enough. We thank you for your patriotism in saying that there are problems facing our country and you have made a huge contribution but let’s not allow your agitation to be hijacked by criminals,” he said. 

In what has been termed as unprecedented times, Kenya is on the cusp of history following one of the largest and most unusual protests in recent memory where youths created a revolution through technology and took to the streets to voice their demands. 

The onset of the protests were triggered by the controversial Finance Bill 2024, which the government sought to raise an additional Ksh.323 billion through increasing taxes. This sparked anger from Kenyans who marched in the streets peacefully calling for the withdrawal of the bill and an end to corruption. 

Demonstrations took place over 25 counties, with the some ultimately entering the heavily guarded parliament building. Albeit, the protests also saw police officers using brute force on the protestors, with some losing their lives. Also, some individuals infiltrated the protests to loot businesses and destroy property. 

President Ruto has since embarked on several austerity measures to appeal to the youth, who still push for his exit from office. 

Posters circulating online indicate that another protest will be held on Tuesday, July 23, whereby the youth will head to the streets to voice their frustrations. President Ruto has, however, claimed that some foreign organisations such as Ford Foundation are sponsoring the protests. 

He also challenged those behind the protests to reveal themselves and offer alternative views on the best direction for the country. 

“They must not remain anonymous, formless or faceless, they must step forward and tell us beyond anarchy and violence, what are their alternative plans for Kenya. I challenge the shadowy people, faceless people to step forward to tell us if they have alternative views to take this country forward. We cannot surrender our democracy to faceless, formless anonymous anarchists who want to use violence to destroy our country,” Ruto said in a church service in Bomet on Sunday.