•  The Senate has come out to ‘pick sides’ in light of the ongoing anti-tax, anti-government demonstrations led by Gen Z.
  • In a sitting on June 3, 2024, the Upper House convened to discuss the state of the nation.
  • Mixed feelings rocked the house, with some Senators calling for a total re-shuffle of the cabinet, and others calling for negotiations between the government and protesters.
  • Acknowledging that the government’s expenditure needed auditing, Senators called for the Upper House's involvement in the budget-making process to check the excesses of the National Assembly.

The Kenyan Senate has come out to ‘pick sides’ in light of the ongoing demonstrations that have seemed to cool off as July progresses.

The house, which has largely been spared, unlike the National Assembly, has had a disconcerting moment, forcing them to look inward and strive for atonement.

In a sitting on June 3, 2024, the Upper House convened to discuss the state of the nation.

While recognizing the ongoing demos and the clamour for a better government from the young generation, mixed feelings rocked the house, as Senators expressed their views, with some calling for a total re-shuffle of the cabinet, and others calling for negotiations between the government and protesters.

“I want to ask this house to ensure that those children get a state funeral, those were not criminals, but children who had reached a dead end,” said Kisii Senator, Richard Onyonka.

Read More

  1. Kenyan Journalists Demand Press Freedom Amid Brutal Police Crackdown
  2. Error 404: Game Developers Go On Strike
  3. Questioning the Future: Will Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Protests Succeed?

“We can the see the children that we have, a generation that is equipped and well versed with matters at the national and international levels. Gen Z’s do not let your bar go down, you’ve set a standard. We noticed on the day that this demonstrations happened last week, by 5pm, Gen z’s were exiting, and it is evident that the demos were infiltrated by goons with the intent to loot,” said Senator Tabitha Munene.

Senator Boni Khalwale, speaking during the motion, called for the dissolution of unconstitutional offices such as those of the First lady, CASs, and Advisors. He also called for the resignation of Police Inspector General Japheth Koome for how the police service handled the anti-Finance Bill, anti-government demonstrations.

While establishing that there was still room for dialogue, Machakos Senator Kavinda Muthama, addressing Gen Z, said, “I want to call upon the young people, the Gen Z’s. You are free to bring your petitions to this senate, and we will discuss them and implement them. Even if there is nowhere else you can be heard, at the Senate, you will be heard.”

At the same time, the Senate called out the Lower House (National Assembly) for not listening to the people, with Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua asking MPs who Voted 'YES' to the Finance Bill to apologise to the country.

Acknowledging that the government’s expenditure needed auditing, Senators called for the Senate’s involvement in the budget-making process to check the excesses of the National Assembly.