President William Ruto has said he is ready to engage youths protesting against ‘harsh’ tax laws pushed by his administration.
In a move to calm the youths who have sustained protests against the contentious Finance Bill, 2024, Ruto said he will talk with the lot to understand their grievances.
“And I want to tell you that we are going to have a conversation so that we can identify your issues and work together as a nation,” he said.
The move is a big climbdown by the President whose troops have been dismissive and firm against the protests.
However, it is unclear how the President intends to engage the ‘leaderless and partyless’ protesters whose demonstrations have been coordinated through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, X, TikTok and Instagram.
The group, Gen Z, have planned a week-long protest to push the MPs to reject the controversial Bill.
Yesterday, they took the demonstrations to Ruto's footstool as he attended a church service in Nyahururu, Laikipia county.
Despite the upheavals, the head of state praised the youth for stepping out in their numbers and engaging in national matters.
“I am very proud of our young people. They have stepped forward, tribeless, they have stepped forward peacefully and I want to tell them we are going to engage them to build a better nation," Ruto said.
He said he was ‘concerned’ about their issues, adding that his administration has moved to address some in next year’s budget.
“In this year’s budget, I have enhanced the budget going to CDF to increase by Sh10 billion so that young people can get bursaries and build ICT hubs for digital jobs,” Ruto said.
He said his administration has enhanced allocation to the Higher Education Loans Board.
The President attended the installation of Rev Samson Gachathi as the third Bishop of ACK Nyahururu Diocese.
ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit denied politicians a chance to address the congregation.
The Gen Z protests began in Nairobi on Tuesday and in Mombasa on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Ruto's Uasin Gishu home turf, stormed the streets to protest against the Bill.
They were joined by protesters in Kisii, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Meru and Laikipia counties.
The protesters vowed to continue with the protests this week.
"Kenya Kwanza has proved it came to office without a plan. It is squandering our future. We will be in the streets until they stop budgeted corruption," said leaders of United Green Movement, a Nairobi based lobby.
As part of the plan, the protesters have threatened to occupy key government premises until their voice is heard.
Yesterday, security was heightened inside and outside the Nyahururu ACK church as protesters staged an 'Occupy Nyahururu' demonstration to deny the President and his troops a chance to address the congregation.
Congregants were subjected to mandatory security screening by the police.
Organisers of the protests said politicians who voted 'Yes' for the Bill should not be allowed to speak in churches.
But in his response to the growing agitation, the President said Kenya is a democracy with institutions that work.
“I want to commit to Kenyans; we are a democratic country. We build our institutions, whether it's the executive, legislature, judiciary, or civil society, we agree that all these institutions are necessary for us to be a greater nation,” he said.
Only the President and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were allowed to address the congregation.
Ole Sapit rejected a request by Gachagua to allow Marsabit Woman Representative Naomi Waqo to speak on behalf of her colleagues.
“Today, I will not allow as many of us as we normally when we are generous with time, but only invite the DP to greet us and welcome you as we bring the service to an end," he said.
Ole Sapit urged the President to listen to the concerns of the youth, even as he encouraged the lot to act peacefully.
“To all of us, what is happening is something unexpected and extraordinary. Gen Z has no tribe, no religion, no class, but they are our children. They are not enemies of the nation,” Ole Sapit said.
“We want to discern what we are saying and we pray that the Lord will give us a moment to listen to one another.”
Gachagua welcomed the decision of the church to deny politicians the opportunity to play politics in church.
“I agree with you, the archbishop, that we should not allow politicians to speak politics in church. As politicians, let us go to the field, let us go to the market with our politics. I agree, let’s respect the church going forward,” he said.