Appeal,
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga is appealing to both President Dr William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua to listen and address grievances being raised by youth who have been protesting for the last two weeks.
Kahiga warns that failure to expedite tackling the issues will only spell doom for the country.
The protests began two weeks ago in Nairobi with demonstrators (under the tag name Gen Z) clashing with anti-riot police leading to the arrests, deaths and destruction of property running into millions of shillings. As of now, tentacles of the demos have reared their heads in at least 35 other counties including Mombasa, Kisii, Kisumu,Meru ,Kajiado and Nakuru ,Makueni,Nyeri and Embu among others.
Surprisingly the demos have been growing in intensity despite the Government’s decision to shelve the controversial Finance Bill 2024 that had ignited the spark that fueled the ongoing protests.
“What we have seen for the last two weeks is not a spectacle one would wish to continue for an extra day. We pray that our President (Dr Ruto), his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and top officials in his government will sit down, talk and sort out this issue. The young men and women who took to the streets a fortnight ago is a glaring indication that we have failed as leaders,” said Kahiga at the Nyeri County headquarters.
On Wednesday last week, Dr Ruto announced the formation of National Multi-Sectoral Forum (NMSF) which will comprise of all stakeholders in addressing concerns raised by the youth. And on Saturday, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei announced that all national-level umbrella organizations representing the youth, civil society, religious organizations, professional bodies and business community organizations.
Also to be included in the team area academia, student leadership, majority and minority leaders in Parliament, and the Council of Governors.
A National Steering NSC) comprising 100 persons shall be the apex organ of the NMSF, charged with providing the framework, modalities, agenda and timelines for a nationwide dialogue on matters raised by the youth. Among items on the agenda include jobs, the nation’s tax policy, national debt burden, representation and accountability and anti-corruption measures among others.
But Kahiga now claims the current crisis would have been averted had the Finance Bill been put aside after the public rejected it in total. The county boss says he had raised the issue of the unpopularity of the Bill with the local population but his warning was ignored.
“When I first raised issue in regard to the Finance Bill 2024 it was due to the many voices of discontent that I heard from those who live in the villages .They were totally against any additional taxation .Unfortunately, after I am speaking out these fears, I became a subject of debate in Parliament for two hours yet I was not fighting the proposed legislation but voicing the cries and reservations of those I interact with on a daily basis,” he added.
Last week a section of clerics from Nyeri had appealed to the Government to heed the cries of protesters opposed to the Finance Bill 2024 and seek a common ground. The ministers under the umbrella of Kenya National Congress of Pentecostal Churches (KNCPC) said there was still room to come up with better legislation that had the blessings of Kenyans through rigorous public participation.
