Groups of youthful protesters on Thursday defied the authorities and shut down Nairobi as President William Ruto's latest political moves appeared to be paying off.


The Gen Zs had called for what they dubbed the "mother of all mass protests" - the 'Nane Nane' march - to continue their push to hold the government accountable and force the departure of the current regime.
The demonstrations, which began nearly two months ago, were initially sparked by opposition to a now-withdrawn Finance Bill. However, they have persisted as more citizens joined a largely leaderless movement against corruption, the high cost of living, and police brutality.


Despite the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, the protests continued, reflecting broader societal concerns about poor governance, corruption, lack of transparency, and accountability.
The political deal between President Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga, which included the appointment of four ODM members to the new cabinet, may not offer a lasting solution to these issues.
As Prof David Monda, a university lecturer and political analyst, noted, "The Raila/Ruto deal appears as a secretive political compromise between two politicians looking to calm the waters of the persistent protests."
In Nairobi, the protests were marked by violent clashes with the police, who fired tear gas and engaged in running battles with demonstrators. Businesses in the capital were forced to close, and roadblocks were set up on major highways to prevent protesters from entering the city.
ODM Nairobi Chairman George Aladwa urged the youths to give the President and his new Cabinet time to serve the people of Kenya, noting that the President had listened to some of their demands, including withdrawing the Finance Bill.
However, Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni described the protests as a success, accusing the police of using excessive force against the protesters in total violation of the constitution.
President Ruto, who has been in office since September 13, 2022, presided over the swearing-in of his reconstituted Cabinet on the same day as the protests.
He appointed John Mbadi to take charge of the crucial National Treasury and Economic Planning portfolio, Hassan Joho as Mining and Blue Economy CS, Wycliffe Oparanya as Cooperatives and MSMEs CS, and Opiyo Wandayi as Energy Cabinet Secretary.
The President challenged the new Cabinet secretaries to deliver and avoid selfish interests, knowing they would be under sharp focus from Kenyans.
The youth unemployment rate in Kenya stands at a staggering 35%, affecting approximately 4.5 million young men and women. This, coupled with issues such as drugs and substance abuse, has fueled the discontent among the youth.
The Constitution of Kenya (Article 55 in the Bill of Rights) obliges the state to take measures, including Affirmative Action programmes, to ensure that the youth access relevant education and training; have opportunities to associate, are represented, and participate in political, social, economic, and other spheres of life.
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