Gen Z took to the streets after being constantly ignored, Kalonzo says

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Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka says Kenyan youth were forced to take to the streets after unsuccessfully exploring all avenues to have their plight heard by the Kenya Kwanza government.

Kalonzo was speaking during a conference dubbed ‘breaking barriers through intergenerational dialogue’ at the United Nations office in Nairobi.

“The Kenyan youths did not take to the streets because it was their first option. They expressed their reservations and dissatisfaction through the public participation process at the county and national levels, but they encountered a plethora of silence and ambivalence,” said Kalonzo.

Kalonzo further stated his support for the Gen Z protests, noting that they brought about changes in the government, including the disbandment of the entire Cabinet.

“They were lectured from the rooftops of luxury SUVs, told they did not know what they were asking for, and that this regime knew what they were doing,” he added.

The Wiper party boss further called for an extensive dialogue between the youth and elders in power on matters of governance, stating that both entities are crucial to the development of any nation.

“Elders may offer guidance, mentorship, and a detailed understanding of our cultural and historical context, while young people can contribute new ideas, technological breakthroughs, and a dynamic approach to problem-solving,” he said.

He added that the partnership between the youth and leaders in power is vital for intergenerational development that benefits the African continent.

“If we want to tear down these invisible and obvious boundaries, if we want each and every one of us to have a measure of success in our republics, then we must all recognize that the partnership between the young and the seniors is not only desired but also vital,” he added.

He has also called on African leaders to have constructive conversations aimed at developing solutions that work for all future generations.

The conference at the UN offices is being hosted by the Oslo Center and the Muslim World League and is being attended by both local and international leaders from different countries.