Amid the financial bill set to be signed by the president, William Samoei Ruto PhD, was done away with and caused different reactions among the citizens. It also included an abrupt firing of all cabinet secretaries and the Attorney General. The Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, survived his position. The Gen Z revolution are firm in their demand to refuse dialogue through representation by any leader. They affirm themselves as leaderless and tribeless. It was confirmed yet again when the opposition leader and leader of the Azimio Coalition Party, who is also running for the African Union Chairman, Raila Amollo Odinga, spoke in a way to suggest a dialogue with the government. Senator Edwin Sifuna in an interview with the media clarified that Raila was speaking on behalf of his party and as quoted “Raila did not go to speak on behalf of the Gen Z”.
The following week of 15th to 19th of July was a busy week for peaceful protestors, citizens, and the government. On Monday the 15th, there was a widespread peaceful demonstration led by taxi drivers across the country. It is recorded as the most peaceful protest, in that no teargas was lobbed at the protestors. They resorted to following the young generation’s methods of making their voice heard. Their cry asked for better prices from driver cab services Uber, Little, Faras, Bolt & Taxify among others. They marched up and about Nairobi CBD towards the Ministry of Roads and Transport and to the respective driver cab offices. They were not content with the commissions charged on the rides and hoped for a better price share between them and the companies. They now claim that they will intensify their efforts in the coming week beginning Monday 22nd to solidify their demands.
On Tuesday the planned mandatory march across the country by Gen Z commenced. In places like Kware, Embakasi, it began quite early. Kware’s state was understandable since the weekend was tough upon unveiling bodies stuffed in sacks, most of whom were females. The prime suspect was caught three days later which sparked myriads of questions from Kenyans. In the heart of the city of Nairobi, it was a chase for democracy as the police were ready for any crowd encounter. Questions arose as to why they lobbed orange agent as a form of teargas, which is known to cause fatal effects on those who inhale it. Unfortunately, police brutality was still seen when a reporter of K24 News Television was shot to the leg, although she was clearly marked with a press reflector jacket. Larry Madowo of CNN Broadcast also lamented about the police regardlessly lobbing teargas and water cannons at marked news journalists. In Kitengela, Kajiado, the youth took to the streets demanding accountability of the government on the unemployment status in their county. The numbers were less in Nairobi compared to other cities due to tightened security measures.
Wednesday to Thursday were minor yet involved activities. Primarily the motorcycle riders held a demonstration along Mombasa road in Mlolongo, paralyzing traffic both in the highway and the Nairobi Expressway. They demanded justice for their fellow colleagues, two of whom were reported dead, and also five motorcycles torched the previous day during the peaceful demonstrations organized countrywide. They claimed goons infiltrated the protests to cause damage in an attempt to silence the demonstrations. In similar events, the press conference held by Azimio Coalition Party was cut short by goons who caused mayhem and evacuated everyone present, including the media who afterwards demanded a public apology. Kalonzo Musyoka, a prime leader in the party, was cut short during his speech by the rowdy youth, who have not yet identified who created the plan.
On Friday 19th, there was a scheduled public address by the president, William Ruto, at 4pm (EAT). In his speech, he read out the nominated cabinet secretaries who are to take the vacant slots in the various ministries: Dr. Debra Mulongo Baraza (Health), Mr. Julius Migosi Ogamba (Education), Dr. Andrew Muihia Karanja (Agriculture & Livestock Development), Mr. Erick Muiriithi Muuga (Water, Santation & Irrigation), Ms Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u (Information, Communication & Digital Economy), Mr. Davis Chirchir (Roads & Transport), Prof. Kithuri Kindiki (Interioir & National Administration), Mr Aden Duale (Defence), Mrs Alice Wahome (Lands, Publc Works, Urban Development & Housing) Ms Soipan Tuya (Environment, Climate Change &Forestry), Ms Rebecca Miano (Attorney General). He added that the final eleven of the cabinet ministers is yet to be released during of his speech on Friday.