Stop protests and give Ruto time, Garissa MCAs urge Gen Zs

Garissa MCAs have condemned deaths, violence and destruction of property witnessed across the country during anti-government demonstrations and urged those involved to stop.

Speaking to the press at the county assembly, the legislators led by deputy speaker Mustapha Abdirashid said the President had responded swiftly to some of the demands raised by the protesters and the time had come to allow him to govern the country.

In the past one month Gen Zs have held protests around the country that often ended in deadly clashes with anti-riot police.

Initially focused on the rejection of the Finance Bill 2024, attention has since shifted to Ruto’s resignation, police brutality, corruption, and politicians’ broken promises and expensive lifestyles.

The government says the demonstrations that started peacefully have been infiltrated by thugs who loot and destroy property.

Abdirashi, the Iftin MCA, said the President has already shown commitment to implementing the concerns  raised by Kenyans among them dismissing his Cabinet, rejecting the Finance Bill, and his decision not to employ CAS, among others.

“We, therefore, request the immediate caseation of these protests because they have proved to be counterproductive. Lives have been lost and property worth millions of shillings destroyed. Surely, this is not what we want to witness as a country,” he said.

“We understand that these demonstrations are fuelled by a variety of concerns and frustrations. However, we must approach this period with respect to the Constitution and the democratic processes that guide our nation.”

Assembly majority leader Mohamed Farah said the President’s swift actions indicate a willingness to address the issues at hand and reiterated the need to allow him time and space to deliver.

“We, therefore, beseech our youngsters to dialogue and reflect on the importance of stability and order in our great nation. We all know that there is no pride in violence. We, therefore, call on the Gen Zs to reflect on their actions and calm the country,” he said.

Nominated MCA Zamzam Mohamed said that while they sympathised with the demonstrators, who are mostly young people, the manner in which they have gone about carrying out their demonstrations has gone overboard.

“I personally feel that the concerns of Gen Z are valid. But, truth be told, the President has climbed down and accepted to not only dialogue but also accept some of their demands. So, I think it is time that we moved forward as a country and built it together,” she said.

The three counties of North Eastern have remained calm with no single incident, unlike other parts of the country that witnessed waves of demonstrations over the last four weeks.

Last week, veteran politician Hussein Mohamed appealed to the youth and other Kenyans to end the protests and accept dialogue with the government.

Mohamed, who was MP for  Dujis (now Garissa Township) for 30 years, called on President William Ruto to listen to the young people as he would loose nothing by doing so.

Speaking at his Garissa residence, the retired politician said even though the Constitution is clear on the right to demonstrate and picket, having peaceful protests is not possible since goons always take advantage of the situation to start looting and destroying people’s property.