Senator Onyonka calls for state burials for youths killed in protests

"Let the flags be lowered a half mast as a sign of respect to them."

In Summary
  • Gusii leaders said it was wrong to throw the military into the arms of young people only armed with smartphones to raise their voices.
  • The Senator hinted at instigating a charge at the International Criminal Court against officers involved in the Tuesday death of the youth during the Parliament invasion.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka (Centre) confering with Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi (right) during the burial of business mogul Peter Bogonko at Nyakoe in Kisii on Friday June 28, 2024
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka (Centre) confering with Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi (right) during the burial of business mogul Peter Bogonko at Nyakoe in Kisii on Friday June 28, 2024
Image: MAGATI OBEBO

Gusii political leaders Friday asked President William Ruto to order the armed force off the streets.

They said it was wrong to throw the military into the arms of young people only armed with smartphones to raise their voices.

"The youth have only awakened the conscience of the nation and all of us including the President should now wake up," Senator Richard Onyonka said.

He said now that they had delivered a message to him, it was unhelpful to send soldiers to confront them in the streets.

"Our young people want those military boots out of the streets. These are our grandchildren, they don't deserve to die for raising their voices," Onyonka said

He also asked the government to accord those killed during the demonstrations a state burial.

"Let the flags be lowered a half mast as a sign of respect to them," added Onyonka.

The Senator hinted at instigating a charge at the International Criminal Court against officers involved in the Tuesday death of the youth during the Parliament invasion.

"Some of us should not shy off opening conversations with the ICC for the sake of the justice of the young people who died in the protests," he said.

Onyonka further told the President to reign in on state officials suspected of plundering public resources.

He said this was among the factors that sparked a near insurrection Tuesday.

"Tell your juniors to abhor looting of national resources and work. It is not easy to separate these issues from what the Gen Z want addressed by you," said Onyonka.

Other leaders present during the burial of business mogul Peter Bogonko held in Nyakoe, Kitutu Chache South were Nyamira Senator Okongo Omogeni and MPs Dan Manduku and Athony Kibagendi.

Sen O'Mogeni accused the Kenya Kwanza government of nepotism and extravagance.

He asked Ruto to do a self-introspection to asses where the rain began beating his administration.

He fingered Majority Whip and South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro for censure.

Onyonka said deeper underlying problems, beyond the Finance Bill, forced the youth to the streets and thus the need to be addressed.

"President Mwai Kibaki had launched free primary education which has since been taken away. People are angry," said the Kisii senator.

He spoke of a jumbled education system devoid of clarity at a time when President William Ruto needed to stand up for the people who put him in office.

"We should thank the teachers for doing a commendable job amid the frustrations from the same master they are serving," stated Onyonka.

Omogeni separately tore into Ruto alleging that it augers badly that he was presiding over a government divided.

"How else can we explain a scenario where a boss and his deputy give an address at the same time?" he posed.

Nyaribari Masaba MP Dr Daniel Manduku reiterated his call to the president to dissolve Parliament in the face of the Tuesday invasion.

Former Kitutu Chache North MP Jimmy Angwenyi was booed when he said President Ruto was a godsent gift from God to Kenyans.

Mourners who had turned up at the burial jeered telling him to sit down.

Kitutu Chache North politician Don Bosco and parliamentary aspirant asked Kenyans to pray for the country.

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