Opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka has joined a chorus of praise for the youth’s activism against the Finance Bill, 2024, expressing solidarity with their efforts. In a statement issued on Thursday, Kalonzo commended the youth for raising their voices, noting that their message is resonating throughout the country.
“I salute Kenya’s Gen Z and I stand in solidarity with you. Your voices are being heard loudly and clearly throughout the country. National Assembly, are you listening and will you heed your constituent’s demands to #RejectFinanceBill2024?,” Kalonzo wrote on X.
His comments come amidst a surge of protests spearheaded by Kenya’s Generation Z youths. The demonstrations initially kicked off in Nairobi on Tuesday and extended to Mombasa on Wednesday. By Thursday, the protests had spread to several other regions including Nakuru, Kisumu, Kisii, Eldoret, and Nanyuki.
The youthful demonstrators, leading the Occupy Parliament protests, aimed to voice their opposition to what they perceived as “punitive” tax measures outlined in the Finance Bill, 2024.
Armed with determination and mobile phones, the Gen Z protesters engaged in confrontations with the police as they attempted to reach Parliament Buildings before the Finance Committee’s report on the Bill was tabled.
Prior to the protests, youths utilized social media platforms, utilizing the hashtag #OccupyParliament, to mobilize fellow Kenyans to participate in large numbers. Despite government concessions and the removal of some contentious clauses from the Bill, the protesters remained undeterred, viewing the actions as superficial gestures.
They criticized the government’s decision to eliminate proposed taxes on certain essential items while simultaneously increasing taxes on other equally vital imported goods, perceiving it as an attempt to give with one hand and take with the other.
