'We're beyond talking stage': Gen Zs fire back at Ruto over Finance Bill discussion

A section of Kenyan youth has fired back at President William Ruto’s comments that he wants to dialogue with young people over their discontent with the Finance Bill 2024 which has seen them stage nationwide protests since last week.

This comes after the President told a church service in Nyahururu on Sunday that he will engage the youth concerning their frustrations on the Finance Bill.

In an interview with Citizen TV’s Sema Na Citizen program on Monday, the youth however stated that the time dialogue is long gone.

They reiterated that they want the draft law dropped in its entirety.

The youth further expressed their disappointment with President Ruto, saying his words do not match his actions.

“Is this the country that we really want? He says that he wants to talk to us but his actions show that he is still opposing us. It’s too late, it’s too late for a conversation,” stated one of the show’s guests William Gacheru.

They criticised the government over the increased abduction of youth activists since last week’s protests.

“They have tried to intimidate us, recently they tried to abduct Boniface (Mwangi) and also those who have a large following on Twitter. This is a way of intimidating us for us to keep quiet, but we will not keep quiet we will continue going to the streets,” stated Gacheru.

“We are fighting for our rights and our future and if we don’t fight for ourselves, who will?”

Additionally, the youth vowed not to be blindfolded by the sudden support they are receiving from politicians and the government, casting doubts at the political leaders’ motives.

“They are changing the language simply because at first, that is the side that favoured them -- being in government, getting resources and being on good terms with the president. But now, they are realizing that even the president is starting to listen and to come to terms with what is happening,” said Esther Gitaranga.

“They also want to shift and it will be very painful for everyone in the street who is demonstrating what they are saying last minute and forget everything they have been doing.”

On allegations by some politicians that the protests are funded by other people, the youth said the demonstrations are driven by unity.

“We do not have a sponsor; we do not have a leader. If we have a sponsor, who is he sending the money to? What we are doing ad Gen Z is coming together to support ourselves,” said Daniel Moruri.

They further called on the immediate release of Shadrack Kiprono, alias Shad, whose whereabouts remain unknown after he was reportedly abducted on Sunday evening in Nairobi.