The National Cohesion and Integration Commission has called on the youthful anti-Finance Bill protesters to uphold peace during their planned demonstrations on Tuesday.
In a statement on Monday, NCIC chairman Samuel Kobia welcomed the Gen Zs’ participation in addressing national issues by expressing their views on the Finance Bill, 2024 through peaceful demonstrations.
Kobia, however, said the exercise of this democratic right should be performed with decency and respect of the rule of law.
“We urge Gen Z to maintain peace and decorum in all their planned demonstrations in the course of this week and beyond,” Kobia said.
Organisers of last Tuesday’s Occupy Parliament protests have planned a similar revolt this Tuesday as MPs will be taking the vote on the contentious Finance Bill, 2024.
The legislators on Thursday, June 27 passed the Bill at the Second Reading stage with 204 votes against 115 who opposed it.
Anger greeted the decision with the protesters, majorly young people below 30, vowing to hold similar protests on June 25 in a last-ditch attempt to pile pressure on the lawmakers to shoot down the Bill.
The MPs said the Bill has been amended and contentious clauses dropped but the protesters want the entire Bill rejected in toto.
They have vowed a “total shutdown” on Tuesday driven by “courage and rage” against a government they say has refused to listen to their concerns.
Another protest is scheduled for Thursday marked by a march to State House when the President is expected to assent to the Bill after its anticipated passage.
This, even after President William Ruto said during a church service in Nyahururu last Sunday that he was willing to dialogue with the youth and listen to their concerns.
"I congratulate you for stepping forward and showing your concerns over national matters," Ruto said while commending the youth for exercising their democratic duty to stand and be recognised.
"We are going to have a conversation with you so that we can identify your issues and we can work together as a nation," he said.
Kobia welcomed the President’s stance saying the Gen Z constitute a large percentage of the population and their voice is critically important in seeking solutions to national issues.
The NCIC boss called on other leaders across the political divide to emulate the President and listen to the youth and urged Kenyans in general to embrace the divine invitation of "come, let's reason together" for the common good of all.
“The Commission further calls on the government, especially the National Police Service and other security organs to refrain from using force against peaceful demonstrators who are clearly protected by the Constitution in so far as peaceful demonstration and picketing is concerned,” Kobia said.