Kenyan President William Ruto has finally addressed the peaceful protests by Kenyan youths over the Finance Bill 2024, expressing pride in their democratic duty and promising to engage with them and work towards a better country.
“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 and I want to tell you that we are going to have a conversation with you so that we can identify your issues and we can work together as a nation and streamline your issues.
“I am very proud of our young people. They have stepped forward tribeless, they have stepped forward peacefully and I want to tell them we are going to engage so that together we can build a better nation,” Ruto said.
“What I want to encourage them is that we are concerned about their issues.”
He added that in the coming financial year, they have set aside funds to create employment opportunities for the youth and to also enable them have access to TVET and university education.
His remarks come after Kenyan Gen Zs staged countrywide demonstrations over the ‘punitive’ Finance Bill, 2024.
The President and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua were at the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Diocese of Nyahururu for a church service and the Consecration and Enthronement of Rev. Maj. Samson Mburu Gachathi as the 3rd Bishop of the Diocese.
Last week, Gen Zs in Kenya staged countrywide protests over the Finance Bill, 2024 calling for its rejection, of punitive taxes.
The protests began in Nairobi on Tuesday and in Mombasa on Wednesday. On Thursday, various other parts of the country joined the protests including Kisii, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Nanyuki, among others.
Despite the protests, 204 Members of Parliament voted in favour of the Bill, as 105 others voted against it.
With the majority having their way, it will now move to the Committee of the whole House where amendments will be made starting Tuesday, next week.
