Kibwana: Gen Z-Millennial movement now official opposition

Mixed reactions continue trickling in following the unveiling of the second batch of Cabinet nominees by President William Ruto.

Ruto on Wednesday unveiled faces of 10 more Cabinet nominees bringing to 20 the total number following naming of the first batch on June 19.

The latest list comprises Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s allies and former Transport and Roads CS Kipchumba Murkomen, a Ruto confidant.

Ruto plucked John Mbadi from Raila’s camp and handed him the all-powerful National Treasury docket and named Wycliffe Oparanya, the former Kakamega governor, CS nominee for Cooperatives and MSME Development.

Hassan Joho, the immediate former Mombasa Governor and a fierce Ruto critic, was handed the Mining and Blue Economy ministry.

With Raila and his key allies now on the government’s side, former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana avers that Gen Z and their Millennial counterparts have now been left as the unofficial Opposition.

The group of youthful Kenyans sparked off the radical changes in government through relentless street protests in the face of brute police suppression and demanded accountability and better governance.

Gen Z had long considered Raila, a pro-democracy revolutionist, as being on their side in their struggle for change until recently when it became apparent he would be working with Ruto, a man they are calling for his resignation.

In his opinion, Kibwana says Raila has lost his status as Opposition leader and father figure to the youth, who now must assume the opposition role he has played for decades.

“Raila you are no longer Baba. The Gen Z-Millennial movement is now the official opposition,” Kibwana said.

The former governor implied that Raila’s involvement with the Kenya Kwanza government is a betrayal to the country’s youth, some of whom lost their lives on the frontline while protesting against an administration he now supports.

“Now you are in your fourth handshake - Moi, Kibaki, Uhuru and Ruto. Always hid in plain sight. May the blood and tears of the young haunt you all your life,” he said.

President Ruto and Raila on July 9 agreed to commence a six-day multi-sectorial forum on the steps of the KICC shortly after the President assented to the IEBC Amendment Bill.

His open dalliance with the Ruto regime immediately sparked outrage from the Gen Z and from his own allies in Azimio with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka saying they are in support of Gen Z and will not engage in any dialogue.

The Gen Z declined an invitation to be part of the National Mulsi-Sectoral Forum (NMSF) and consistently scorned upon leaders who have been vouching for dialogue.

The lot said the government does not need dialogue to audit the country’s debt, post medical interns, take accountability for dead protesters or stop corruption.

“We want action, just act!” they said as they held a series of protests.

"In terms of the Gen Z revolution, it appears that the administration lacks an understanding of public sentiment. Generation Z does not wish to engage in dialogue. They want action and Wiper agrees," Kalonzo said on June 10.

Raila had until recently appeared to have backed out of the government of national unity deal saying he had heard what the Gen Z wanted and in a new twist, issued his own demands ahead of any engagements with the government.

First, Raila said there should be no dialogue, but rather, a national convention to discuss among other issues, compensation of victims of police brutality, dismissal of all protest-related cases and release of all abductees and those in jail.

“Once these issues are resolved, we can focus on a National Conversation, and conducted transparently in a neutral venue,” Raila said in a statement on Sunday.

Shortly before unveiling his second batch of Cabinet nominees on Wednesday, Ruto ceded to the last conditions and ordered security agencies to release all those wrongfully arrested during anti-government protests and dismiss all cases against them.