Gen Zs Appeal to President Ruto Ahead of Saba Saba, Urge National Dialogue
The Association of County Students Associations Presidents – Kenya (ACSAPK), which brings together student leaders from all 47 counties, has made a heartfelt appeal to President William Ruto. They are urging him to hold a national dialogue with the youth to address the various challenges they face today.
In an official statement, ACSAPK emphasized the importance of initiating open discussions to find alternative and lasting solutions to the deepening rift between the youth and the government.
According to the association, such talks would help prevent the recurrence of youth-led protests, which have recently turned violent and resulted in the tragic loss of young lives.
The student leaders are calling on government institutions to step up and support the formation of a multi-agency panel.
This panel, they suggest, should work closely with youth leaders to come up with practical strategies to tackle major issues affecting young people, such as rising unemployment.
“The recent protests across the country clearly show that the youth are deeply frustrated by the tough economic conditions, lack of jobs, limited access to quality education, poor governance, and the high cost of living.
While the demonstrations have served to raise the voices of young people, they have also led to increased tension, destruction, and sadly, death,” said Derrick Odinga, the Secretary of ACSAPK.
Another student leader added, “The youth are the lifeblood of Kenya. Their input should be central to shaping the country’s future. We ask President Ruto to support the creation of a National Youth Dialogue Taskforce and appoint a liaison officer who will work directly with ACSAPK.”
This appeal comes at a time when many Gen Zs have shown resistance to engaging with government-led talks. They describe their movement as “leaderless, fearless, and tribeless,” believing that formal talks with government officials could water down their organic movement.
Last year, Gen Zs played a key role in leading nationwide protests against the controversial Finance Bill, which introduced additional taxes.
These demonstrations positioned the youth as critical watchdogs of government actions, with some referring to them as the “unofficial opposition” of the day.
However, ACSAPK clarified that the youth are not without direction or leadership. They criticized attempts by political actors to hijack the movement for their own gain. Instead, they stressed the importance of sincere dialogue focused on real change rather than political interests.
This latest push for engagement follows comments by Charlene Ruto, daughter of the President, who recently expressed her concerns about how some youth express their frustrations.
She spoke out against actions like protests and “hate raids,” where Kenyans flood the social media pages of politicians with criticism or mockery, saying these approaches do not help the country move forward.
“No nation can thrive by encouraging division—whether it is generational, tribal, or racial,” Charlene said.
She urged young Kenyans to avoid confrontational methods and instead channel their passion and energy into constructive and peaceful reforms that can create real impact and unity in the country.
Join Gen Z New WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
