- Uhuru Kenyatta asked Kenyan youths to be firm and courageous when they defend good governance in the country
- The retired president promised to support the motion, urging young citizens not to be afraid of those who oppose them
- Uhuru spoke on Friday, January 17, Ngong at the funeral mass of his first cousin, businessman Kibathi Muigai
Ngong – Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta He has urged Kenyan youths to continue their pursuit of good governance.
Source: Twitter
Uhuru advised young people not to sit back because what is their right is taken away.
He had previously distanced himself from the rebellion launched by the youth against the current administration.
Pledging support, Uhuru called on young citizens to remain fearless and dedicated with the will and motivation to transform Kenya politically.
He noted that the current generation holds the key to unlock Kenya's potential, which has been held back by bad leadership.
“Gen Zs are our future story, fight for your rights, don't just be lazy when what you sweated for is taken away. Fight and make sure you have your rights. Everything is worth fighting for. If you don't fight for it, don't complain when you are exploited,..Don't be afraid, we are behind you,” he said.
He spoke on Friday, January 17, in Ngong, at the requiem mass of his first cousin, the late Kibathi Muigai.
Uhuru's remarks came at a time when the government has hinted at plans to control social media where rebellions against the government have escalated.
On Thursday, January 16, the Ministry of the Interior involved communication companies and representatives of social networks in the country, where measures to prevent such evils were discussed.
What the government directed Facebook, X to do in Kenya
It was decided that big tech companies like Meta and X should be based in Nairobi.
This can help stop the rise of misinformation, social media manipulation and online abuse.
The ministry said that such measures were urgently needed due to what it said was an increase in the abuse of social media characterized by violence, hate speech and incitement to violence.
Apart from confirming their presence in Kenya, the government added that telecommunication service providers will have to implement strict measures against online criminal activities.
The Kenyan Internet has recently become an important resource for critics of the government to express their disapproval of the President William Ruto how he runs the country.
How Kenyans used social media to bring about change in governance
Platforms like X, formerly Twitter, TikTok and Facebook, were used to inspire the rebellion that hit Kenya in June 2024.
At that time, Kenyans gathered on the streets across the country in protest to oppose the tax-laden Finance Bill 2024, which the Kenyan Parliament unanimously approved.
The bill had to be approved by Ruto, and if it was a new finance law, citizens would have to dig deeper into their pockets to sustain government operations.
Intent on suppressing the bill despite its unpopularity, the president had to sign it at the Nairobi State House, before the angry public stormed the Nairobi National Assembly to express their disapproval.
Ruto then decided to scrap the bill, perhaps to appease the citizens who had shown themselves ready to find any way to get what they want.
Why Ruto refused to approve the 2024 Finance Bill
In his televised address to Kenyans on June 26, 2024, Ruto said he discussed the concerns of the angry public and consulted with his party's MPs before making his decision.
He said he will involve relevant stakeholders in amending the content of the bill, which has attracted strong opposition from Kenyans.
The President, at the same time, pointed out that corruption is depriving the government of revenue and thus explained his intention to arrest the vice president while wanting to cover the lack of revenue following the removal of the bill.
Ruto also approved an investigation into austerity measures and cuts to the government budget, calling for a reduction in spending in the national executive branch and other government agencies.
Apart from that, he expressed his readiness to involve the Kenyan youth who started a large protest to reject the bill.
The President also continued to reorganize his Cabinet in response to the evaluation of his Ministers and the public.
Despite all these measures, the rebellion continued, evolving into different forms of anti-government movements, including painting supporters of the government.
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