The camaraderie between President William Ruto and opposition chief Raila Odinga faces an acid test as youthful Kenyans plan countrywide protests on Thursday.
The police have said they are prepared to maintain peace amid warning that criminals are planning to infiltrate the much-hyped protests.
“In anticipation, we have ensured adequate deployment of security personnel,” acting IG of Police Gilbert Masengeli said.
Gen Zs have been mobilising on social media platforms including X, WhatsApp, TikTok and Instagram for the protests.
“This is our destiny; August 8, 2024. Don’t be left behind,” one of the posters circulating online reads.
In another poster mobilising for the demos dubbed NaneNane;#OccupyStateHouse, police were urged to stop brutality on protesters.
“Country first. Respect Kenyans not politicians #RutoMustGo” it read.
This is the third month in a row that Gen Zs are staging anti-government protests.
Ruto and Raila have struck a political deal ostensibly to deflate the protests.
Observers say Raila’s friendship with the President appears to have divided the Gen Z and, in effect, deflated the demos.
It will be interesting to see if the newfound friendship between them will deter protests in their political turfs.
In the previous protests, Ruto’s Rift Valley home turf, Eldoret, Kericho, Nakuru and Kitale, were among areas that witnessed ugly demonstrations.
Nearly all counties in Raila’s political turfs witnessed the demos.
They include Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay, Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Kakamega, Bungoma and Nairobi.
Tellingly, in the last protests held more than two weeks ago, the demonstrators largely avoided the streets across the country.
Raila and Ruto have inked a political deal that saw the President pick four close allies of the ODM boss to his Cabinet.
They include Raila’s two deputies in ODM Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, ODM chairman John Mbadi and National Assembly Majority leader Opiyo Wandayi to the Cabinet.
The President also nominated Beatrice Askul, an ODM member, to the Cabinet.
“We have given them experts, you will see change,” Raila said.
The President sacked his initial Cabinet after Gen Zs accused the CSs of arrogance, opulent lifestyles and graft.
On Monday, Raila disclosed how he rescued Ruto’s government from collapsing.
“They had failed, dissolved the Cabinet and came to us to give them people. They came begging please give us your people who know how to work,” Raila said.
In a statement on Wednesday, the acting IG asked all those planning to exercise their rights of participation in public demonstrations, presenting petitions or assembling should do so in compliance with the attendant laws.
“I call upon all officers to remain focused on discharging their constitutional mandate, which is to protect life and property, maintain law and order, and they should do so without any fear or favour,” he said.
In Nairobi, Makadara MP George Aladwa appealed to the conveners to call off the protests to allow the President implement the changes that were being pushed by Gen Zs.
The ODM Nairobi county chairman said the President has made significant concessions and should be given ample time to run the government.
Among the concessions the President has made include the dissolution of the Cabinet and the crafting of the broad-based government.
“It is on that note we as Nairobi county ODM leaders wish to appeal to those who have been planning the Nane Nane demonstration to call it off,” Aladwa said.
“We ask Kenyans to allow the Cabinet to be sworn in and give the President time to implement the changes. We cannot solve the challenges facing the country when we take to the streets on daily basis.”
“Many people have lost livelihoods and lives, which as a country should not allow to continue.”
Aladwa spoke in Nairobi a day to the planned Nane Nane demonstrations.
He was accompanied by ODM Nairobi county officials Evenas Omondi and Childers Vichei.