Nairobi's Woman Representative, Esther Passaris, believes President William Ruto will address youth concerns despite recent unrest over the Finance Bill rejection. Passaris understands young people want quick change but insists violence isn't their goal.
"Gen Z are impatient. They want radical changes. I am certain burning Kenya is not one of them. They are mad. It’s justified. Change is never easy. Change is inevitable. I have confidence William Ruto will do right by this Generation," Passaris said.
Passaris asked youth to be patient, follow laws, and respect the constitution while pushing for their rights. She stressed peaceful protests and talks to solve problems.
Responding to criticism from analyst Mutahi Ngunyi, who said protests aimed to harm Kenya, Passaris said peace matters most.
"We need patience, as the saying goes, 'To err is human. To forgive is divine,'" Passaris added.
Protests lasted for three weeks, leading to President Ruto rejecting the Finance Bill after youth demonstrators, who included storming Parliament. Reports on casualties vary, with rights groups citing 39 to 41 deaths and 400 injuries, including police officers. Passaris hopes for peace and dialogue rather than chaos, urging for respectful discussions to address the issues faced by the youth.
I'm confident Ruto will do right by this generation – Passaris
Esther Passaris expressed her confidence that President William Ruto will act in the best interests of Kenya's youth. She noted that while Gen Z is eager for immediate changes, they do not seek to destroy the country. Passaris acknowledged that their anger is justified but emphasized that achieving change is not easy.
The legislator reminded Kenyan youth that patience is crucial in such situations. She urged them to respect the constitution and uphold the rule of law as they advocate for change.
"Let's remind our children that patience is a virtue and “To err is human. To forgive divine”. We have to respect the constitution and work together to enhance the rule of law. My desire is #Peaceoveranarchy."
She was responding to remarks by political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi, who claimed that Gen Z's goal is to burn the country down. Ngunyi tweeted that the President had met most of their demands, yet they continued with anti-Ruto slogans.
"To try and overthrow a constitutionally elected president through civil disobedience is to do a civilian coup and the constitution allows it. But did Ruto listen? Yes. Did he climb down? Yes. Why must he go? No idea. This revolution has no argument. Except burn Kenya," he said on X.
The protests by Kenyan youth led President William Ruto to reject the Finance Bill in its entirety. The President wrote back to the National Assembly, recommending the deletion of all clauses in the Bill. This decision followed persistent peaceful protests by young Kenyans demanding the Bill's rejection. The protests, which lasted for at least three weeks, also saw the youth invade Parliament.
During the protests, damage to property and loss of lives were also reported. According to human rights organizations, the death toll stands between 39 and 41, with the possibility of being higher. However, the government, through the Ministry of Interior, insists that the number of deaths is 25. The protests also resulted in 400 injuries, including 43 police officers.