Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino has called out President William Ruto for failing to fulfill his promise of engaging in an open National Dialogue to listen and get the issue at stake with young Kenyans before forming another Cabinet.
While addressing the press on Friday August 16, Babu Owino said he had received phone calls, text messages, and direct requests from distressed Kenyans who feel the political class has abandoned them after the recent constitution of a new cabinet by President Ruto.
“But in a show of contempt to the young people, we saw the president announce and put in a place a new cabinet without any consultation with the Gen Zs and Millennials of this country,” he said.
“He has since held no dialogue or any engagement to ascertain the problems that led to the recent protests.”
Babu Owino Speaks of Anti-Govt Protest Victims
The lawmaker said that Kenya’s young people feel disrespected by President Ruto’s apparent disregard for their issues.
“Before any grass has grown on the fresh graves of our youths recently killed, before people who were badly wounded in the protests have healed and while so many families are still searching for their loved ones who were abducted by state agents, we have been shocked to see President Ruto return to his default mode of shuttling from one county to another, and of working from the top of vehicles apparently launching invisible government projects,” he said.
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Babu Owino further stated that the Gen Z and Millennials are not happy with the fact that Ruto has refused to offer compensation for the families whose loved ones were shot and killed by the police.
“The Gen Zs and millennials of Kenya are unhappy because you have refused to free the youths who were abducted by the police, and you have refused to drop the trumped-up charges against the peaceful demonstrators who went to the streets to ask for good governance of their country,” Babu Owino stated.
“The young people are unhappy that you have refused to pay for the medical expenses of the people who were wounded by the police.”
Other Concerns Raised by the MP
The MP added that the youths are shocked that the Head of State refused to drop the new funding model of college and university education, which is forcing some of them to drop out of college.
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Furthermore, he noted that the youth are demanding to see concrete steps from President Ruto’s government to address high unemployment and reduce the cost of living, which they say are driving them to despair.
“The young people of Kenya are asking that you show them the reforms you are proposing to address corruption and looting of government resources by people who are under your direct supervision,” the MP said.
“They are asking that you show them the reforms you are undertaking to improve the competence and quality of your bureaucracy to enable the government to be responsive in-service delivery and development.”
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