When Gen Z protests began, MPs were quick to dismiss them with derogatory epithets. First, Kenya's leader of Majority in Parliament Kimani Ichungwa, said,
"Those protesting in Nairobi, are holding iphones, they call themselves Gen Z, they come out of Uber taxis, they get in KFC and eat, they don't know what it means to lack electricity ".
Now he has changed his viewpoint and says, they are our children, they need to be listened to. He also said Gen Z has been a good example to all of us, they have demonstrated, we can unite on things that matter without our focus on tribalism.
During his support to the Finance Bill 2024, the MP for Dagoreti South , John Kiarie said Gen Z was not real and images of their protests circulating on social media were manipulated. He even alleged some of the images didn't originate from Kenya. Gen Z techno-savvy troops pounced on him on social media, causing him to trend by posting images of their protests and exposing him as a lying sycophant. He retreated and apologised.
“In the heat of the moment during the debate on the finance bill, my words were unnecessary, misguided and insensitive. I deeply regret my utterances and understand the anger and frustration that exists in our nation,” Kiarie stated.
For many years leaders have assumed that the Kenyan youth weren't focused on Politics. They could promise them anything, no matter how strange or unreal and get away with it. The political class assumed the youth and the masses didn't care that much about matters politics.
Gen Z has proved this thinking wrong. The youth are focused, they are educated, they understand politics, they know what it going on, they know their rights, they have read and analysed Finance Bill 2024 and their knowledge is being showcased on X, Instagram, Facebook and all other social media platforms. Their knowledge trickles down to their young sisters and brothers.
A new dawn in Kenya has started. Gen Z don't care tribes, Gen Z is the new Kenya. Gen Z has zero tolerance to corruption, impunity and lack of accountability. Gen Z wants a better Kenya for all.
Juja Member of Parliament George Koimburi's allegations on MPs being offered Ksh2 million to vote in favour of the Finance Bill 2024 has sparked debate.
The MP on Sunday revealed that each MP who voted yes in favour of the bill offered millions. However, he emphasised that he did not accept the offer and voted against the bill.
"I refused to sell the people who elected me. That's why I voted No to reject that bill which I believe will harm Kenyans," he added.
He alleged that the money set to be given to the MPs was being carried in sacks and if an MP voted yes last Tuesday, they would be offered the money. The MP however did not give the specifics on who was distributing the funds.
The lawmaker asked the President not to sign into law the controversial bill if it is approved by Parliament. He added that the consequences of enacting it would be dire especially due to Kenyans' frustration with the government.
After his allegations went viral, Kenyans have come further to accuse their respective MPs of betraying them and placing their greed ahead of the needs of Kenyans.
Additionally, a section of Kenyans emphasised that it was possible that the MPs who voted yes had yet to read the bill and did not know its effect on Kenyans.
"The government spent Ksh408 million to bribe members of parliament to vote yes. This is budgeted corruption, treacherous traitors. We lost Ksh408 million in one day," one activist lamented.
Kenyans have called out the MPs who are in favour of the bill accusing them of failing to honour their Constitutional mandate.
Ekuru Aukot, the Thirdway Alliance Party leader while reacting to the claims added that Koimburi's revelation had vindicated him. Aukot had also opined that some politicians had been bribed to pass the controversial bill.
"So MPs betrayed their voters for the Ksh2 million and the state spent Ksh408 million to bribe MPs to do its dirty work. It's just sad," he stated.
Notably, demonstrations are ongoing to ensure the lawmakers do not pass the Finance Bill 2024 set to increase taxes leading to a high cost of living. By Maureen Njeri, Kenyans.co.ke
High Schengen visa rejection rates persist due to difficulties in proving genuine intentions, economic instability, and demonstrating the intent for temporary visits.
Strengthening economic ties and connections to the home country could help reduce rejection rates.
Due to stricter visa policies and checks by the European Union, the number of Nigerians rejected for Schengen visa applications increased by 9.97% to 42,940 in 2023 from 39,189 in 2022.
This made Nigeria the African country with the fourth-highest number of rejections. The cost of rejected visas from Nigeria rose to €3.44 million last year from €3.14 million in 2022, BusinessDay reported.
According to The Africa Wealth Report, African visa applicants face stricter restrictions, leading to a 30% rejection rate in 2022, despite having the lowest applications per capita.
This rate is 12.5% higher than the global average. African Schengen visa rejection rates are 10% higher than the global average, three times higher than the highest rejection rate, and ten times higher than for US-Americans.
The report highlighted that African countries account for seven of the top ten countries in the world with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates, Also access to Schengen visas correlates with the economic and passport strength of the applicant’s country.
Poorer African countries with low gross national income and low Henley Passport Index rankings face higher rejection rates. Visa requirements within Africa and limited global visa access further hinder African applicants’ chances of obtaining Schengen visas.
According to Henley and Partners, here are the top 5 countries in Africa with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates
Algeria tops the list with the highest Schengen visa rejection rate. Out of approximately 392,000 applications, around 179,000 were rejected, resulting in a rejection rate of 45.8%.
Nearly half of the Algerian applicants face rejection, reflecting a complex interplay of factors. The large volume of applications from Algeria may contribute to the high rejection rate, as consular offices might be overwhelmed, leading to stricter scrutiny of each application.
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau, despite its relatively small number of applicants, has a rejection rate just slightly lower than Algeria’s. With nearly 8,000 applications, over 3,600 were denied, resulting in a rejection rate of 45.2%.
The high rejection rate could be attributed to the country’s political instability, economic challenges, and poor diplomatic ties with Schengen countries. The lack of proper documentation, inadequate financial proof, and concerns about the intentions of the applicants also play a critical role in the high denial rate.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has a substantial number of visa applications, reflecting the high demand for travel to the Schengen Area. With nearly 87,000 applications, more than 39,000 were rejected, leading to a rejection rate of 45.1%.
Several factors contribute to this, including concerns about fraudulent documentation, financial instability, and a significant number of Nigerians overstaying their visas or working illegally in Europe. These issues prompt visa officers to be particularly cautious, leading to a high rejection rate.
Ghana
Ghana’s rejection rate of 43.6% indicates significant challenges for its citizens in securing Schengen visas. Out of approximately 42,000 applications, more than 18,000 were rejected.
While Ghana is known for its relative political stability and economic progress compared to some of its neighbors, applicants often face rejections due to inadequate financial documentation, insufficient ties to the home country, and doubts about the purpose of travel.
Senegal
Senegal rounds out the top five with a rejection rate of 41.6%. Out of nearly 57,000 applications, over 23,000 were denied.
Similar to other countries on this list, Senegalese applicants often struggle with providing convincing proof of their intentions to return home after their visit. The economic conditions and the prevalence of illegal immigration cases from Senegal also influence the high rejection rate. By Chisom Michael, Business Day
The legislator now avers that the words he made on the floor of the house were just a spur of the moment, which he deeply regrets.
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie has eaten a humble pie after being forced to apologize for his comments regarding the anti-finance bill largely organized by Generation Z and the authenticity of certain images.
The legislator now avers that the words he made on the floor of the house were just a spur of the moment, which he deeply regrets.
“In the heat of the moment during the debate on the finance bill, my words were unnecessary, misguided and insensitive. I deeply regret my utterances and understand the anger and frustration that exists in our nation,” Kiarie stated.
Kiarie, a former Redykyulass comedian claimed that photos of Gen Z protestors on Nairobi streets were graphically manipulated to create a false narrative.
“Some of the photos we have seen on the streets, I can tell you as a graphics editor that they do not belong to this country,” he said during a debate in Parliament on Tuesday.
The second time lawmaker alluded that the demonstrations are bonafide having propelled by national issues that have remain unresolved for decades.
Kiarie acknowledged the efforts staged by the young generation are not futile saying social activism is important to advocating for change.
“Having been a part of movements for social justice and human rights in the past, I acknowledge the importance of vigilance and popular agitation for a better Kenya,” Kiarie stated.
Kiarie lauded the Generation Z for their courage and creativity shown in advocating for change on the issues surrounding the Finance Bill and Corruption by using social media and other emerging technologies.
“I am sincerely sorry for any provocation, hurt or confusion my words may have caused. I definitely have learnt a lot from this and also from all the active listening and engagements that I have been doing this weekend,” he stated.
In recent weeks, Kenya has witnessed a remarkable uprising led by its youngest demographic, Generation Z, who have taken to the streets in mass protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
These demonstrations have proven to be more than just fleeting moments of dissent; they are a clear message to the government that the voices of the youth cannot be dismissed.
While some leaders initially underestimated their influence, President William Ruto has recognized their significance and has vowed to engage with them. By Irene Mwangi, Capital FM
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi (left) and his Communications Director, Salim Swaleh during a past meeting on January 26, 2023.
The Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (PCS-MFDA) confirmed the arrest of several high-ranking officials within the ministry following a crackdown.
According to a press statement released by the ministry on Sunday, Salim Swaleh, who serves as the Director of the Press service at the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary (OPCS) was arrested for alleged involvement in corruption activities.
"Those arrested include Salim Swaleh, Director of OPCS Press Service, in whose office the swindlers were found nested with fake door switch-nametags," read the statement in part.
Further, the ministry revealed that the arrested officials and their accomplices rented their offices as spaces for unscrupulous business people to conduct illegal dealings.
According to Mudavadi's office, the officials had become adept to the illegal trade which included having the officials switch-out nametags on doors to further deceive unsuspecting victims.
The ministry further detailed that the arrests followed a tipoff that alerted OPCS-MFDA security, who then mounted intense surveillance at the OPCS-MFDA Railways Office to disrupt the reported acts of impersonation and misuse of the facility by the fraudsters.
To arrest the individuals, the security team tracked a group masquerading as visitors to gain entrance into the Railways Building where Mudavadi's office is located.
The group would then falsifying their identities (as VIP guests or government officers), and the officers they purported to be visiting on different dates and times.
Victims of the scam have been identified as mainly foreigners who would be shepherded into the Railways Building ostensibly to meet high-ranking Government officers for favours in exchange for bribes.
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