Kenya’s President, William Ruto, is gearing up to host a groundbreaking public online forum aimed at engaging with anti-tax protesters through the social media platform X Spaces. His 31-year-old daughter, Charlene Ruto, has heralded this event as a historic moment, dubbing it as “the first-ever online meeting between a president and all Gen Z individuals worldwide.” This event is particularly significant as it targets the youth demographic that has been at the forefront of recent protests challenging her father’s leadership.
The protests, which were sparked by opposition to the finance bill, were orchestrated using X Spaces, a platform that facilitates live audio conversations among users. Tragically, a state-funded human rights commission has reported over 40 fatalities during the protests, with the interior ministry confirming 25 protester deaths on the day the bill was passed by MPs.
In response to the public outcry over the proposed tax hikes, President Ruto has pledged to retract the legislation aimed at alleviating Kenya’s substantial debt burden exceeding $80 billion. However, the demonstrations have evolved into demands for Mr. Ruto’s resignation and accountability for the security forces’ actions during the protests.
President Ruto has extended an invitation to young people to join him on X Spaces this Friday under the hashtag #EngageThePresident, scheduled between 11:00 GMT and 14:00 GMT (14:00 to 17:00 local time). Charlene Ruto has actively promoted this opportunity on social media, urging the youth to participate constructively, emphasizing their pivotal role in shaping future discussions for their benefit.
Several members of President Ruto’s cabinet are also slated to engage with young people during the forum to address their grievances. Despite this initiative, a segment of Kenyans on X Spaces has expressed intentions to boycott the president’s chat and organize a parallel Space to counter the conversation. Their demands include cabinet dissolution, anti-corruption measures, and austerity measures within the administration.
Prior to engaging with protesters, President Ruto is scheduled to deliver a national address on television, setting the stage for what promises to be a critical dialogue between the government and its citizens.
