Ruto makes U-turn on GenZ demos calling them for dialogue

President William Ruto has made an about-turn on GenZ-led protests against the Finance Bill 2024. The president’s allies had dismissed the protests arguing that they don’t understand the bill.

However, the TikTok-born campaigns against the bill has swept through social media platforms bringing together youth to protest and show dissatisfaction with Kenya Kwanza’s tax policies.

Ruto spoke at a church service in Nyahururu, Laikipia county Sunday amidst a crowd of youth under #OccupyChurches hashtag, staging protests.

In what appeared to be a climb-down from his stance on GenZ calls for total rejection of the finance Bill 2024, the head of state said that the youth have exercised their democratic right by stepping forward to engage in affair of the country.

Ruto said he is going to have a conversation with the youth to understand their grievances.

“Our young people have stepped forward to engage in the affairs of their country. They have done a democratic duty to stand and be recognized. I want to tell you that we are going to to have a conversation with you so that we can identify your issues and we can work together as a nation,” Ruto said.

This comes a day before demonstration against the finance bill 2024 slated for Tuesday. These demos which has been witnessed across the country on Tuesday and Thursday last week are planned and communicated in the social media platform, mostly X by young people across the country.

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Unlike the previous protests which were largely led by opposition leader Raila Odinga, the ‘Reject The Bill’ protests have been termed as sporadic and appears to have no leader directing the youth.

Anglican Church Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit shared similar sentiment on the sporadic nature of GenZ demonstration saying that they are not done along tribal or religious lines.

“GenZs have no tribe, no religion, no class but they are aour children. They are not enemies of the nation,” Ole Sapit said.

He added, “ we want to discern what you (GenZs) are saying and we pray that the Lord will give us a moment to listen to one another and understanding.”

Ole Sapit further urged the president to listen to the grievances of the young people.