A youth leader in Uasin Gishu County has pointed an accusing finger at nominated youth leaders for contributing to the recent Gen Z protests.
According to Norbert Kipkemboi Ng’etich, the nominated legislators in the Kenya Kwanza administration should have advised President William Ruto accordingly as far as youth interests are concerned.
In an interview with Uasin Gishu News on Saturday, Ng’etich accused the youthful leaders of forgetting to advocate for the interests they were nominated to do at the National Assembly and Senate.
Anti-Finance Bill protests
For the last two weeks, youths have been staging protests twice a week, demanding for the withdrawal of the contentious 2024 Finance Bill.
President Ruto finally bowed to pressure from the Gen Z protests and declined to sign the Bill.
He has already written a memorandum to the National Assembly recommending deletion of all clauses in the bill.
However, the decision only came after widespread protests that saw some of the protesters breach security and storm the National Assembly.
While the bill has been withdrawn, it is set to have negative effects to funding several key projects that are contained in the 2024/2025 Financial Year.
Counties are set to be the first casualties of the 2024 Finance Bill withdrawal after the Head of State declined to sign the County Appropriation Bill on Friday.
Instead, he referred the bill back to Parliament recommending a budget cut from the Ksh400 billion that was initially allocated to the devolved units.
National Multi-Sectorial Forum to address youth issues
Meanwhile, the government has initiated a process that will culminate in the establishment of a National Multi-Sectorial Forum that will be mandated to engage with all stakeholders in addressing concerns raised by the youth.
In a statement by the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, the forum will bring together all national umbrella organisations representing the youth, civil society, religious organisations, professional bodies, business community organisations, academia, student leadership, majority and minority leadership of parliament, Council of Governors and other stakeholders.
The stakeholders have since been asked to nominate representatives that will constitute the National Steering Committee of the NMSF.
“The National Steering Committee comprising 100 persons shall be the apex organ of the NMSF charged with providing the framework, modalities, agenda and timelines for a nationwide dialogue on matters raised by the youth,” read part of the statement.
Each umbrella body will nominate two individuals.
