By JULIUS MBALUTO
President William Ruto assented to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries (IEBC) Bill 2024 on Tuesday at KICC (Kenyatta International Convention Centre) paving the way for the appointment of Chairperson and Commissioners of the electoral body. This commits the government to fully implement the new electoral law in line with the recommendations of the NADCO report.
“This historic action paves the way for appointing the selection panel that will recruit IEBC’s new commissioners. I am fully behind the process and committed to ensuring its full implementation,” said Ruto on Tuesday.
The President shared that a task force comprising 150 people from stakeholders' groups including the Youth will hold a dialogue to chat the way forward for the country. Gen-Z were quick to reject the dialogue. Gen -Z raised the following questions,
Do we need dialogue to arrest killer cops? Do we need dialogue to sack corrupt government officials? Do we need dialogue to audit public debt? Do we need dialogue to post medical interns? Do we need dialogue to end incompetence? To all this questions, Gen -Z said the answer is NO.
Some were not pleased to see opposition leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka at KICC with President Ruto. They insisted none spoke for them as they are leaderless, tribeless and fearless. On different platforms on social media, the youth led movement comprising Gen-Z and Millennials shared their frustration arguing that Raila was standing next to their oppressor.
A Message shared titled, "Agwambo kaa home", reads:
"Dear Raila Odinga, your decision today to stand with our oppressor validates our choice for not wanting you involved in our protests from the beginning." It goes on to say that they will not dialogue with the oppressor, declaring at the end that they are the new opposition.
Speaking at KICC, Raila had criticized the electoral commission's incompetence during last general elections saying:
“What example are we showing the world? In the midst of such an important exercise, who were we to believe between the two sides of the IEBC? It's a shame! Kenya has men and women who can do better jobs, and this Act will help unify the country,”
In the same meeting the Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka highlighted the importance of involving Gen Z in national matters.
“If we are not careful, all of us will be thrown out by Gen Z because they say they have come of age. You say we are leaders of tomorrow, but we are leaders of now. We can't dismiss them,”
However, Gen-Zs want their demands addressed, those who killed innocent protesters arrested and prosecuted, public debt audited and telling all Kenyans the exact figures the country owes, to whom it is owed, explanation of the borrowing and evidence of the how the money was spend. Gen -Z have lost faith in the current regime, they want parliament dissolved and the country to hold general elections.
Critics of Gen-Z have also come out defending dialogue saying they too are stakeholders and unlike Gen -Z they have leaders they still respect. These Kenyans argue dialogue involving all is the way forward.
