Nakuru youth offer conflicting views on President Ruto's dialogue proposal

While president William Ruto expressed his willingness to engage the Gen Zs in their own terms, it appears majority are not interested in the said national conversation.

In Nakuru, those who have opposed the dialogue have expressed their intention to boycott the meeting which they say will be a waste of time.

Shikoh Kihika of tribeless youth stated categorically that she does not intend to participate in any Space X discussion with the head of state noting that it is unnecessary.

Ms Kihika argues that the President ought to implement the demands being issued by the agitators instead of trying to hoodwink them through the dialogue.

According to her, the demands of the people are in the public domain and the president can easily get them so there is no need to meet the people only to repeat the same thing.

“Why must he insist on meeting the young people, the discussions are already ongoing online so the president can easily get to know what the people want easily if he wishes so,” she said.

Ms Kihika explained that there is already no interest nor goodwill from the youth to engage the president as none of them is willing to host the conversation.

Some of the things she wants the president to implement to appease the youth include reconstituting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, dissolution of the Cabinet and the parliament, audit of the public debt and the Constituency Development fund, salary reduction for public servants among others.

She wondered why the government is insisting on the youth to help him fix the economy, when he is yet to implement the things he promised Kenyans in his manifesto.

“We are leaderless and faceless yes and he cannot purport to ask us to nominate two representatives to join the dialogue committee. Just the same way he never asked for our leaders when addressing us during the rallies is the same way he should look at us now,” said Ms Kihika.

Ms Laura Mwaura on her part also dismissed the dialogue which she said is inconsequential.

She says the condescending attitude that the President has given the demonstrating youth as the contributing factor in many of them rejecting the dialogue.

Ms Laura says the President’s sentiments during the interviews with the media gave perception of someone who does not care about the people.

She notes that the President appeared to be more concerned with the property than the lives lost following the police brutality.

Furthermore, the presidents continued support of police who she said have been killing the youth shows that he is not sincere in his engagement with the youth.

“Why does he want to a conversation with us when he is still doing the things that we are fighting against. Why is the government paying the goons to infiltrate our demonstrations? Why are we still seeing more abduction by the state? Is he trying to intimidate us?” said Ms Mwaura.

On the flipside, Mr Daniel Kiptanui the President of TVET students association is ready to engage the president on the X Space platform which he says is a better alternative than going to state house.

Mr Kiptanui feels the president deserves to be given a chance since he has shown that he is ready to engage the youth.

“It will be a good opportunity to tell him what we want directly and also get to hear what he has to say,” said Mr Kiptanui.

Among the issues he wants the president to address include corruption, Youth Empowerment Programmes and Funds, Job opportunities, the ICT HUBS for the Youths, the Education System and the audit our Public Debt.