There is need to urgently address concerns raised through Gen Z protests

Gen Z led anti-finance bill protestors demonstrate in Nairobi. July 2, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Religious leaders in Uasin Gishu County have called on the government to dialogue with Gen Z to address their concerns.

The clerics caution that Gen Z concerns are still very much alive and legitimate despite the much touted 'Nane nane' protests lacking punch and having failed.

That failure is attributable to the state's heavy-handedness in dealing with the protesters.

Police brutality did not even spare journalists who, even though fully kitted to identify themselves, were roughed up in the misplaced wrath of rogue police officers.

That was one of the lowest points in the police service in a country that professes democracy and the rule of law.

It is no wonder then that there is heightened mistrust between police officers and the public which, unfortunately, creates room for crime to thrive.

That happens because citizens do not trust the police enough to volunteer useful information that could help combat crime across the country.

Notwithstanding all the pertinent issues that the youth have so far raised, even though not entirely new, the government is expending its energy in the wrong place.

It has largely been groping in the dark, hitting out blindly while looking for individuals it suspects have been funding the Gen Z protests.

In itself, that will not address the issues raised, for it is akin to covering a festering wound with gauze and sitting back, hoping it will heal.

Gen Z may have lost the battle, but they have demonstrated a resilience that says they could seek alternative means to drive their point home.

They have demonstrated great ability to mobilise without a centralised command.

The government should pay attention to the contentious issues that took the youth to the streets in order not to miss the opportunity to fix our problems.

A lot of what the youth demand is doable, and all it needs is political goodwill to set the ball rolling.

The youth want an equitable share of national resources, affordable education, the creation of jobs, lower cost of living, an end to corruption, the appointment of competent Cabinet Secretaries and functional institutions, among other things.

There is discontent among the youth that the opposition rode on the wave of the Gen Z protests to worm its way into government at the expense of righting the wrongs that caused so much anger.

Even though President William Ruto bent backwards and formed a broad-based government by appointing members of the opposition in his cabinet, many remain skeptical that the cabinet will deliver.

While on a tour of Central Kenya recently, Ruto quipped that he needed to incorporate the opposition in his government so that he does not bear the tag of 'Zakayo' (tax collector), alone.

This, perhaps more than anything else, points to a lack of seriousness, a relapse to the status quo for, after all, there is serenity. There is great potential in this country. All that is needed are policies that will make every Kenyan feel like a part of the whole.