During a heated Bunge La Mwananchi session, members of Kenya’s Gen Z voiced their anger and frustration over the proposed new finance bill. Many of them feel the bill is unfair and will only make life harder for the common mwananchi who is already struggling to make ends meet.
These young people were clear in their message they will not sit back and allow Parliament to pass a bill that only adds to their suffering.One brave youth stood up and spoke directly to Finance Committee Chair Hon. John Mbadi. With firm words, he warned him not to take the bill to Parliament unless it is fair and puts the interests of the ordinary Kenyan first.
He reminded leaders of what happened during last year’s protests, where many young people died fighting for their rights. These protests were recently highlighted by a BBC exposé that accused the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) of using excessive force against unarmed protesters.
The wounds from that dark period are still fresh, and the pain among the youth remains deep.The speaker did not hold back. He said that young people are not afraid of dying for what they believe in. “Kama si hizo, sisi vijana hatuogopi kifo, tunarudi street na theme song ni ‘Ruto must go,'” he declared, showing how serious and determined they are.
The chant “Ruto must go” has now become more than just a slogan it is the rallying cry of a frustrated generation that feels abandoned by its leaders.The warning to Members of Parliament was loud and clear. If they choose to support a bill that punishes the people instead of helping them, they should be ready to face the consequences. “We will come for you,” the youth said, pointing to a growing lack of trust in politicians. Many young Kenyans now feel that their leaders have turned their backs on them and are only looking out for their own interests.
What is clear from this session is that Kenya’s youth are tired of being ignored. They are calling for a finance bill that is reasonable and fair. They want transparency, economic justice, and leaders who are accountable to the people. If their cries continue to be ignored, it is likely that the anger we saw last year will return only this time, it may be stronger and more widespread.
The government now stands at a crossroads. It can choose to listen and act in the interest of the people, or it can continue to push policies that fuel anger and deepen the divide.
Either way, the message from the youth could not be clearer the time for ignoring them is over.