Raila Offers Support for Gen Z Protests; Here’s Youth Reactions

In a letter posted from Dubai, opposition leader Raila Amollo Odinga has reiterated his support for the youth spearheading changes in Kenya. He has carefully skirted calling them Gen Z and instead issued a raft of demands for the Kenya Kwanza administration before any dialogue takes place. 

Among other things Raila has called for a resolution to the employment impasse between government and intern medics as well as junior secondary school teachers.

Azimio Leader Raila Odinga on Sunday asked President William Ruto not to reappoint Cabinet Secretaries that he had earlier dismissed from duty.

In an address dispatched from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Raila revealed that he was opposing the move as a way of showing solidarity with anti-government protests spearheaded by the youth.

ADVERTISEMENT

The former Prime Minister termed the issues raised by Gen Z including the appointment of fresh Cabinet Secretaries as genuine issues that had also been raised by Azimio in 2023.

The statement from Raila Odinga came a little too late as President William Ruto had already reappointed some of the dismissed cabinet secretaries.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cabinet Secretaries who have already made a comeback to the Executive include; Kithure Kindiki (Interior Security), Aden Duale (Defence), Alice Wahome (Lands and Public Works), Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport), and Rebecca Miano (Attorney General).

Former Gender CS Aisha Jumwa had also on Saturday campaigned to be reinstated in the cabinet during an event in Kilifi County.

Raila while disagreeing with the move of recycling the former CSs also demanded the ⁠arrest and prosecution of police officers involved in the abductions and killing of protesters.

⁠He further asked the national government to compensate the relatives of those who were killed by the police and goon violence during the protests.

Notably, Raila also demanded compensation for Kenyans who were either injured or killed during his 2023-led anti-government protests.

Youth reaction 

The youth have not been amused by Raila’s offer of support and instead have benignly asked the veteran politician to step aside and let them finish what they started.

There’s been unverified reports that the doyen of Kenya’s opposition politics could be compromised either directly by receiving a bribe from Ruto’s Government or through manipulation over his bid for African Union chairmanship.