- The Gen Z caught Kenya's political class by storm following their sustained pressure on the government for better governance and accountability.
- Their unity of purpose saw President William Ruto halt the implementation of the Finance Bill, 2024, and has since reconstituted his Cabinet.
Image: FILE
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has said the Wiper party is ready to sponsor Gen Zs who will wish to vie for elective seats at the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Tuesday, the senator asked the Gen Z to register as voters ahead of the 2027 polls saying those who will be sidelined by other parties will be accommodated in the Kalonzo Musyoka-led outfit.
“We also want to encourage the Gen Zs once they register as voters to join political parties and Wiper is open to receive all the Gen Zs who want to run for seats and have been denied an opportunity to form their party,” he said.
“We can sponsor you to run for various seats in the country.”
Kenyan youths, popularly known as Gen Z, caught Kenya's political class by storm following their sustained pressure on the government for better governance and accountability.
Their unity of purpose saw President William Ruto halt the implementation of the Finance Bill, 2024, and has since reconstituted his Cabinet into what he termed as a broad-based government which now includes members of the Opposition ODM.
Aware of their power and influence in numbers, a section of Kenyans moved to the Registrar of Political Parties seeking to reserve several names to register them as political parties in the future but the registrar declined.
"Your application has been considered by law and the names suggested have been rejected as the names do not promote inclusivity, hence against Article 91(1) of the constitution," the ORPP said in a letter dated July 11, 2024.
The names rejected include Gen-Z Movement, Gen-Z National Movement, Gen-Z People's Alliance, Gen-Z People's Movement, Gen-Z Democratic Party, Gen-Z Alliance Movement, Gen-Z Democratic Movement, Gen-Z Political Party, Gen-Z United Movement and Gen-Z Alliance Party.
An application by another Kenyan to have the name Gen-Z party reserved was equally rejected by the ORPP on similar grounds.
Maanzo said Gen Z can still exercise their power on the ballot by registering as voters and recalling all elected leaders who they feel have fallen short of their mandate.
He said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is soon to be reconstituted paving the way for them to acquire voter status in readiness for activation of the recall clause.
“The Gen Zs are unhappy with the lot in Parliament,” he said.
“The recall clause can be applied, Kenyans who are unhappy with their members of Parliament can now recall them by collecting signatures, soon IEBC will be formed…those who are not performing or who are voting just for the sake of voting can be recalled.”
Calls for Kenyans to recall their MPs hit fever pitch at the height of anti-Finance Bill protests in June after Parliament passed the impugned Bill amid widespread disapproval from Kenyans.
As protesters roamed the streets of Nairobi on the evening of June 25, some 195 MPs were voting ‘Yes’ to the Finance Bill, 2024.
Some MPs had their business establishments looted and vandalised while some like Molo MP Kimani Kuria, chair of the National Assembly Finance Committee that tabled the Bill, had his rural home attacked and vehicles torched.