Gov’t-Leaning Politicians Runs To Discredit Gen Z Anti-Finance Bill Protests
A wave of Generation Zs took to the streets this week to protest the Finance Bill 2024, but the government does not appear to be taking the demonstrations seriously based on the current events.
In the last week, Kenya Kwanza government leaders have attempted to discredit the protests, describing them as a ploy by the youth to gain more views on their social media platforms.
The youth were outraged by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah’s latest remarks, in which he claimed that the protestors were misguided and didn’t understand the bill’s contents.
He mocked the young protesters, implying that they were privileged individuals arriving at the protests in taxis while holding iPhones and then later dining at KFC joints after the demonstrations.
“The Gen Z have iphones and use Ubers to protest. Wanatoka maandamano wanaingia KFC kukula kuku na minofu, maji ni ile ya chupa…si mliwaona? Hawajui shida stima ni kitu gani…wako na umeme 24/7,” he said in Baringo County on Friday.
To Hon. Kimani Ichung'wah @KIMANIICHUNGWAH
— Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist (@mohammedhersi) June 21, 2024
I have watched this clip over and over again, and I am afraid to tell you that you have missed the nature of the current protest.
The fact that young, smart, educated Kenyans, armed with iPhones, expensive sneakers, designer jeans,… pic.twitter.com/Ska8PnlsrP
Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi also sought to condemn the protests, claiming that the youth did not understand the bill.
“Niliona hao Gen Z, hata mtoto wangu pengine alikuwa hapo, lakini hawaelewi hii finance bill,” said Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi.
At the same time, President William Ruto’s economic adviser, David Ndii, mocked the demonstrations and referred to digital activism as “wanking.”
“Politics is a contact sport. Digital activism is just wanking. Any jackass can kick down a barn but it takes a good carpenter to build one,” Ndii stated.
The comments have sparked outrage among Kenyans online, who want an audit of the billions of dollars collected from taxes introduced in previous Finance Bills.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Well done. I challenged you and you rose to the occasion. We promised to change our political conversation from politics of personalities and tribes to politics of issues. Thank you for helping us deliver. Hapo👍🏾 https://t.co/UOPs8D7MWe
— David Ndii (@DavidNdii) June 19, 2024
Critics have also urged the government to take the issue seriously, claiming that the youth have taken it upon themselves to spark a revolution in the country, regardless of tribe or political affiliation.
Recently, Dagoretti South Member of Parliament John ‘KJ’ Kiarie was called out for his remarks, claiming that some of the photos shared online were either old or doctored to drive an agenda as they did not represent the true state of affairs.
“The committee was already in the process of engaging Kenyans way before a fake protest was organised… Some of the photos we were seeing, I can tell you as a graphic editor, that they do not belong to this country,” he alleged in Parliament.
His remarks echoed Kitutu South MP Rachel Nyamai’s claim that Gen Zs were only interested in gaining TikTok views.
The penultimate Finance Bill protests took place on Thursday, with youth thronging the streets and demanding that legislators reject the contentious bill.
Using the hashtag #OccupyParliament, the youth attempted to gain access to Parliament during a vote on the bill.
Despite tear gas, water cannons, and intimidation, the protests lasted all afternoon and into the night, with the youth exercising their right to demonstrate.
Despite numerous protests across the country, 204 MPs voted in favor of the bill, and 115 opposed, advancing it to the Committee of the Whole House next week.
Gov’t-Leaning Politicians Runs To Discredit Gen Z Anti-Finance Bill Protests
