Anxiety as country anticipates another Gen Z protest on Tuesday

President William Ruto withdrew the contentious Finance Bill, 2024 last week but its opponents comprising largely of the young generation are still rallying to pour on the streets on Tuesday to denounce its contents.

The Gen Z who are largely credited for piling pressure for the Bill to be dropped have declined an invitation to be part of the National Multi-Sectoral Forum (NMSF), which is meant to address the concerns they have raised.

On Sunday, the youthful protesters held a candle-lit vigil at the Jevanjee Gardens in honour of their colleagues who died during Tuesday’s Occupy Parliament protests.

The true number of people who died during the deadly demonstrations is conflicting but the President on Sunday put the figure at 19.

From Jevanjee, the youths marched to the Kenyatta National Hospital amid a heavy police presence as they went to visit the injured protesters whilst vowing to continue the push for change come Tuesday.

Despite Sunday’s events being largely peaceful, anxiety is evident in the air as the Gen Z prepare to pour onto the streets of Nairobi.

“Mbona leo kuna jam hivi? (Why is there so much traffic jam today?) This writer asked a boda boda rider who he had hailed to work to beat the gridlock.

“Unajua kesho kuna maandamano so watu wengi wamekuja town leo wamalize shughuli zao mapema (You know tomorrow there will be protests so most people are in town running errands early enough,” he said.

This and the fact that learners were going back to school after midterm break translated to long stretches of traffic congestion on major city roads.

“Harakisha tumalize hii kazi mapema unajua kesho ni maandamano na naweza kosa kuja kwa ofisi (Hurry up we finalise this work early you know with the protests tomorrow I might not come to the office,” a colleague at the office told a subordinate staff on phone.

During a media roundtable at State House Sunday night, the President agreed to Gen Z's demand that the only environment they would be comfortable discussing their issues was Space on X.

"I promised that I would engage the young people through multi-sectoral forums. I also promised the topics that I wanted us to discuss, and I’m open. I have heard that they do not want a multisectoral forum, and maybe we should engage on X, and I'm open to talking with them on a forum they are comfortable with," Ruto said.

The President said whatever suggestions the young generation has that are aimed at improving or changing the already existing development agenda are welcome “and I will be responsible to guide as a father”.

“Tell me who among you is going to set up the X Space and either Thursday or Friday, I will be there. I want us to discuss taxation, unemployment, corruption, and all issues,” he added.

The invite has attracted mixed reactions from the Gen Z with some welcoming it while others have expressed reservations that the President may not be able to take the heat that will be unleashed by speakers on the Space.

“He will end up leaving after two minutes,” one said.

“Notebook loaded. I hope akuje na therapist wake (let him have a therapist) next to him,” added another.

“Amerix will deal with him properly”, “we just want action” and “time for talk ishad kitambo” were other varied reactions.

The youths said on Friday last week that they would hold protests on Tuesday and Thursday.

Using the hashtag #OccupyEverywhere, the Gen Z have been marshalling support from all Kenyans to show up in solidarity with their course.

“All Kenyans in solidarity shall occupy all major roads in the country and sit down,” a poster reads.

The mass civil revolt started on Tuesday, June 18 with the inaugural Occupy Parliament demonstrations after massive mobilisation by Gen Zs on social media.

It was the same day the now impugned Finance Bill, 2024 was tabled in Parliament by Finance Committee chairman Kimani Kuria with amendments.

Protesters insisted that they did not want an amended version of the Bill but rather, its rejection in totality.