The government really needs to stop underrating the intelligence of the Kenyan people and in particular that of their latest nemesis, the Gen Z.
I appreciate that it is difficult for a 61-year-old entity to change its ways, but really, the attempts to co-opt the Gen Z movement have been foolish, desperate and pathetic.
Gen Z are a very different proposition from those that successive Kenyan governments have dealt with since 1963.
This youth movement has so far shown that it cannot be bribed, bought or compromised and this has been confusing to government operatives.
The state is used to dealing with venal political types, who are usually in the game for their own good. Such people can eventually be compromised and the state believes that in the end, any negotiation comes down to naming a price.
However, faced with the Gen Z protesters, they have been stumped. From the President down, I bet they are wondering how the Gen Z can stay aloof.
They are frustrated by the fact that the genuine Gen Z protesters cannot be tempted by easy money and proximity to power, which could in turn propel them to power some day.
The trouble is that many in government who got to the top in exactly this manner cannot comprehend that for some people, life is not about the trappings of wealth and power. Not everyone has ambitions to get rich or die trying.
This lack of comprehension is probably what has led to associates of some of the leading politicians in the government of President Ruto coming forward in a pathetic attempt to pose as "youth leaders", ready to negotiate on behalf of Gen Z.
This group of young men (there were no women in the formation) calls itself the Inter-Party Youth Forum Leadership (IYFL). It appeared out of the blue recently, claimed its mission was “to guide Gen Z in engaging in a formal and constructive dialogue with President Ruto regarding youth-related issues”.
At first sight, the group reminded me of the infamous Youth for Kanu 1992, better known as YK’92, who first appeared on the scene early in 1992, shortly after President Moi had conceded to the pressure for a return to multiparty politics.
My instincts appear to have been right because shortly after the group launched itself, Twitter CSI were on the case. I know it should now be X CSI, but that doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. Nevertheless, you know what I mean.
On a side note, have the intelligence services ever thought of recruiting these Twitter CSI folk?
Anyway, back to reality, and in a matter of a few minutes, all of the men at the IYFL news conference had been identified as being at one time or another closely involved with top government leaders. This was done using photographic and documentary evidence.
Simultaneously, the government reportedly issued instructions that would be attractive to these YK’92 clones.
According to the message: “The Office of the President directs youth, civil society, religious groups and others to nominate two members each by July 7, to form a 100-member National Steering Committee of a Multi-Sectoral Forum to address issues raised by youth.”
These characters and their friends in government, especially those with YK’92 links, appear to believe that it is 1992 all over again, and that IYFL can be the new YK’92.
I can bet that they are salivating at the thought of being able to benefit from political patronage like their YK’92 heroes.
Fortunately, the Gen Z protestors appear to be unmoved by these political shapeshifters and opportunists who bend with the wind.
Meanwhile, some of us are old enough to recall how during the 1992 elections, President Moi used YK’92 for personal campaigns as well as on behalf of Kanu.
We also recall the effect of numerous economic scandals that the YK’92 gang and their associates were involved with was that Kenya’s economy came close to collapse.