Exclusive: Nigerian top activist commends William Ruto for backing down, tells Gen Zs to embrace dialogue

• Young Kenyans have been taking to the streets to protest against the recently withdrawn Finance Bill 2024
• A former labour leader in Nigeria has commended the president for listening to Kenyans and urged Gen Zs to meet Ruto for dialogue
• He added that the more the protests continue without creating room for talks will only lead to hopelessness among the people and the economy sinking

Kenyans have been witnessing protests that began days before the first voting of the Finance Bill 2024 by members of parliament.

Ex-Nigerian Labour leader Emmanuel Igbini has asked Kenyans to give Ruto a chance for dialogue. Photo: Igbini Emmanuel, Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, Anadolu/Getty Images. Source: UGC

These protests escalated and saw young Kenyans shot outside parliament buildings while attempting to access it.

The deaths of the young Kenyans also resulted in the president, William Ruto, addressing the nation, terming the incident as treasonous.

However, this did not deter Kenyans from continuing the protests as they marched to the streets in huge numbers.

Was it right for William Ruto to reject Finance Bill

A former Labour leader in Nigeria, Comrade (Engr) Igbini Odafe Emmanuel, noted in an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke that the protests risk causing more harm should urgent dialogue fail.

"Now that the Gen Zs have said they are unhappy and the president has listened, what is the way forward? Everybody is now confused because the right idea is not there. He has shut down the IMF manipulation, but he is confused because he does not know what to do again. There is confusion. No president wants to be humiliated in this manner, enough of the bloodshed, the president has listened, sit down and come up with ideas," he said.

Emmanuel further asked Gen Zs to approach dialogue with an open mind rather than looking at each other with mistrust.

According to him, the longer the protests go on without resolution, the more the country's economy will sink and the more hopelessness will result.

"The West wants to discredit him for listening to Kenyans. We see this every day: when Americans or the UK rise against a policy, they listen. Why are they not called weaklings? Ruto has done well because our African leaders never admit when they are wrong. He should now cut off his foreign trips; it is now time to be home and work," he added.

What should Ruto do to avert protests

Emmanuel advised the president to send representatives to meetings outside the country and show leadership.

"He should reduce his cabinet and send away some cabinet secretaries whose ministries are not that important or merge some of them. Third, he should deal with corruption. Young Kenyans have made their voices loud, and luckily for you, the president of your country has admitted, which is not easy for any African leader. Let us have a meeting point between the Gen Z and the president," he added.

The Nigerian patriot also asked Gen Zs to devise solutions before the president 'runs out of patience'.

"If they continue with this kind of pessimism, Kenya will go down. And now that the president is willing to listen, this is the right time to send the message. How long are they going to remain in the streets? They will begin to lose hope and will lose the struggle. Do they want people be dying and they raise funds to bury them? Is that what they want?" he further said.

Johnson Sakaja responds to claims on banning Gen Zs

Elsewhere, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja reacted to reports that he has outlawed Generation Z (Gen Z) demonstrations in the county.

On Monday, July 1, reports emerged claiming Sakaja had banned protests in the county following widespread destruction of properties in the previous demonstrations.

However reacting to the reports, the city governor termed them as false, claiming political opportunists were using his name to create fake news.

What you need to know about Ruto's reactions to protests

• Ruto lamented sleepless nights for the past two weeks since the protests began and shared he was focused on helping the youths get jobs.
• During a round-table interview, the president said he was ready to engage Gen Zs on X spaces to understand their Issues.
• He also listed five key items he wants to discuss with Gen Zs and economic players to move the country forward.