Since the emergence of the Gen Z movement, President Ruto has faced significant challenges in running the country. This youth-led revolution has not only caused him sleepless nights but also driven many of his officials into hiding, fearing the wrath of these young revolutionaries who have declared war on his perceived incompetence.
However, recent developments suggest that the influence of this movement might be waning, leaving Kenyans divided. In this episode, we will focus on President Ruto’s strategies to undermine the Gen Z movement.
1. State Machineries
From the beginning of the Gen Z revolution, Kenyans have witnessed instances of police intimidation against protestors. These intimidations included the abduction of influential social media influencers who opposed President Ruto’s government, reportedly under the command of a powerful government figure. The use of state machinery aimed to deter protestors from participating in further demonstrations due to fears of abduction, killings, or torture. The impact of these shadowy figures within President Ruto’s government was notably felt on June 25th, during the parliament invasion by Gen Z protestors. The aftermath of this invasion was marked by numerous bodies in the city mortuary, the abduction and disappearance of individuals, and the torture of those suspected to have participated.
This tactic has had some success for the government. Since the invasion of the parliament, although protests have continued on different days, Kenyans have not witnessed such a large gathering of protestors within Nairobi. Perhaps some protestors are now afraid of encountering the ruthless state machinery that has instilled fear in their lives.
2. Infiltrating the Protests with Government-Affiliated Goons
The Gen Z protests started peacefully until reports emerged that some government officials had sponsored goons to infiltrate the protests. These goons aimed to create chaos through robbery with violence, vandalism of businesses, and causing tension within the Gen Z protests. A recent incident captured on video showed a black Range Rover handing over cash to motorbike riders believed to be part of these hired goons. Their goal was to counter the Gen Z protests with violence, tarnishing the image of the young protestors who had initially declared their stand against violence.
With the infiltration of these goons, the police would then perceive the Gen Z protests as violent and respond aggressively. This response was intended to cripple the protests within Nairobi’s CBD. Despite multiple cries from Gen Z protestors accusing the government of infiltrating their movement with hired goons, they have sometimes taken matters into their own hands to ensure their protests are not tainted by these malicious individuals.
3. Buying the Opposition Team
President Ruto recently announced a new batch of his Cabinet Secretaries, which included members of the Azimio opposition team. This strategic move aimed to silence a portion of Azimio supporters who had joined the Gen Z protests against the government’s punitive legislations and taxes. By incorporating opposition members into his cabinet, the president hoped to appease some protestors and diminish the participation of Azimio-affiliated protestors in further demonstrations.
This tactic appears to have partially worked. Anti-government protests have visibly decreased, with reactions from former opposition strongholds changing notably. For instance, Mombasa County, which had previously been active in the Gen Z protests, shifted its stance and began praising President Ruto after he nominated former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho as Cabinet Secretary. Similarly, the Nyanza region, previously vocal against Ruto’s regime, started expressing support for the government following the appointment of their natives to cabinet positions.
These developments suggest that President Ruto has managed to sway a segment of his opposition, potentially weakening the Gen Z movement. However, the critical question remains: will he truly succeed in silencing this revolution that threatens to send him and his allies back to their villages? According to Ndura Waruingi, the Gen Z movement is resilient and may only be temporarily subdued. He believes that even if the president manages to silence the movement for a while, it might eventually evolve and return even stronger.
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