Hours after President William Ruto and Azimio Leader Raila Odinga called for dialogue to address the Gen Z protests, the Senate on Wednesday July 10, 2024 introduced several proposals aimed at resolving the issue.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi laid out seven proposals to mitigate the political unrest predominantly driven by Gen Z.
The bipartisan team comprising Senators and MPs, recognized the urgency of addressing the concerns raised by Gen Z and other citizens.
The Senate will discuss issues brought up by Gen Zs, which include corruption, impunity, government incompetence, and the lack of merit-based public appointments.
Additional concerns include the extravagant lifestyle of leaders in the Kenya Kwanza administration, unemployment, and the high cost of living.
The first proposal urges the National Assembly to quickly consider the presidential memorandum that rejects the Finance Bill 2024 in its entirety.
Cheruiyot and Wandayi also emphasized the need for prompt implementation of austerity measures.
President William Ruto had directed all government Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), constitutional commissions, and independent offices to adopt austerity measures.
The Senate’s third proposal calls for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and other government agencies in the governance, justice, law and order sectors to intensify efforts to combat corruption.
To address Gen Z protests, the National Police Service has been urged to stop abductions, unlawful arrests, and extrajudicial killings, and to show restraint when dealing with peaceful and unarmed demonstrators.
The fifth proposal calls for the release of all individuals arrested for organizing and participating in peaceful demonstrations related to the Finance Bill enactment.
Ruto and Raila’s team also proposed that the government cover hospital bills for the injured and funeral expenses for those who died during the protests.
The Judiciary is urged to prioritize and expedite all court cases related to the Finance Bill enactment and the resulting demonstrations.
