Lawmakers urged to stop ignoring youth’s voice

International Relations expert, Sipho Mantula, is urging African leaders to stop ignoring the voice of young people.

The courage of Kenya’s Gen-Z has taken the world by storm after they invaded the streets of Nairobi calling for the scrapping of the new finance bill, which will see a hike in tax.

The Kenyan government insists that the new taxes are needed to fund spending programmes and lessen the debt burden.

But the young people believe this will further burden their parents who are already struggling to pay their school fees.

Mantula says governments in African countries have not considered the youthful populations they have.

He believes the anti-tax protests should serve as a wakeup call to politicians who undermine their young citizens when passing laws.

“Young people are not happy with issues around accountability by leaders.”

Mantula says the young people of Kenya have been very vocal, even during the time of Uhuru Kenyatta.

This is despite police’s continued efforts to suppress their voices.

“The issues of bread and butter, providing employment and having subsidies are the issues that the government has been silent about for years,” explains Mantula.

 

At least 13 people, including journalists and medical personnel, have been reported dead after police yesterday used live ammunition to disperse protesting crowds outside the Kenyan Parliament.

The brutal killing of civilians has led to major public outcry with some taking to social media, calling for President William Ruto to resign.

While Ruto has since vowed to engage the young people, he has labelled yesterday’s scenes as an unprecedented attack on the country’s democracy and rule of law.

He claims the week-long protest has been hijacked by organised criminals.

The President’s address has angered many civilians who maintain that the proposed tax is going to kill the country’s economy.

You have no defense in Killing Innocent Protesters who are demanding the right thing be done pic.twitter.com/vIHBxrbicf

— Frank👀💯 (@DiamondEase) June 26, 2024

 Kenyan activist, Auma Obama, the half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, was among protesters.

She bemoaned how intense force was used on young harmless civilians who were just carrying banners.

UN Secretary General, Antonio Gutteress, has called on the police force to exercise restraint and for protests to remain peaceful.

I am deeply saddened by the reports of deaths and injuries – including of journalists and medical personnel – connected to protests and street demonstrations in Kenya.

I urge the Kenyan authorities to exercise restraint, and call for all demonstrations to take place peacefully.

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) June 26, 2024

 

Murder of Kenya’s Children Over Finance Bill Must Stop Immediately. pic.twitter.com/4CsyRTfUsC

— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) June 26, 2024

All sovereign power belong to the people of Kenya. You cannot kill all of us. Tomorrow we march peacefully again as we wear white, for all our fallen people💔💔 You will not be forgotten !!! #RejectFinanceBill2024 pic.twitter.com/Mtj2QK7lON

— Hanifa 🇵🇸 🇵🇸 (@Honeyfarsafi) June 26, 2024

 

Young people in Kenya standing up and saying NO! Not on our watch will you make decisions that will affect our lives and a future you won’t be a part of, to the government. #kenya #REJECTFİNANCEBILLKENYA2024 #REJECTFİNANCEBILL2024 #RejectFinanceBill pic.twitter.com/4nyHieHJfJ

— Andile Ncube (@AndileNcube) June 26, 2024

The EFF’s Statement on the Tragic Killings of Protesters in Kenya

– This oppressive response highlights the President’s willingness to resort to deadly force to push through his Finance Bill, which clearly serves the interests of Western powers at the expense of his own… pic.twitter.com/iZtL0GG04B

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) June 26, 2024