Former Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat has condemned the violence witnessed in Nairobi and some parts of the country that led to the loss of lives, injuries and destruction of properties.
Salat said that it is unfortunate that Tuesday’s protests turned chaotic after the young people popularly known as the Gen Zs were infiltrated by goons who took advantage of the situation and started looting.
Speaking to the Star on the phone, Salat said that it was right for the government to save and protect the lives of the people and properties as confined in the constitution.
“These young people's noble idea of expressing their views on the 2024-25 Finance Bill proposals was good but lost track when criminals took the centre and started causing mayhem, making the protest lose meaning and portray our country in a bad state,” Salat said.
He added that the young people had gotten support from most of the quarters by engaging in the peaceful demonstrations last week but the Tuesday one lost its meaning when they allowed infiltration.
“History in this country will never be the same again following these protests which attracted international attention. The mission of these youths was ruined in a single day which is too bad,” he said.
The former Bomet MP also said that every Kenyan has the right to picket and exercise their rights but the loss of lives, properties and violence ruined their intended mission on the Finance Bill.
“The door was wide open for a serious engagement if they would have followed the right process as required by the law to pass their message to the relevant authorities,” he said.
Salat said that it is hard for the government to engage them because it is an amorphous grouping with no serious leaders.
“The agenda of Gen Z was hijacked by perpetual activists whose mission is to gain their interests by trying to gain international fame at the expense of many Kenyans and the criminal elements took advantage and started looting other people's properties,” Salat said.
The leader said the protests are now an eye-opener in the budget-making process by ensuring the views of all the people are incorporated into the budget.
"As a country, we need to carry our weight by supporting our systems so that do not depend on IMF, World Bank and other institutions for money. We need to sustain ourselves," he lamented.
Salat lauded President William Ruto for declining to sign the Finance Bill saying that the legislators have another chance to capture the aspirations of the young people in the Bill.
"The move taken by the head of state is commendable because he is true to his word as per his address to the nation yesterday evening where he stressed dialogue by accommodating all the views raised by Kenyans. And today he has declined to sign it or send it back to parliament for further amendments," Salat said.
On Wednesday, President William Ruto declined to sign the Finance Bill, 2024.
State House sources told the Star that the Bill will be sent back to Parliament before they break for recess today.
The Head of State has also proposed a raft of amendments to the Bill which the MPs will have to consider.