Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, popularly known as Babu Owino, has called on the youth to soldier on in honour of their fellow fallen Gen Z who lost their lives during the June 25, 2024, protests.
Babu in a video on Tuesday called on Gen-Z to remain resilient and fight on without backing out, and to honour the fallen soldiers.
His message comes ahead of planned protests on Wednesday in remembrance of Gen Z who died during the anti-finance Bill 2024 demos.
The youth plan to take to the streets on June 25 to mark the first anniversary of the deadly Gen Z uprising against the 2024 Finance Bill.
“What I will tell my Gen-Z brothers and sisters is to fight
on, soldier on. It is not over until it is over,’’ Babu said.
As the youth prepare to hold a commemoration for those who
have fallen during recent protests, the legislator rallied them to be present and
visible.
“Tomorrow, commemorate your fallen soldiers. In honour of
your fallen soldiers, be present, be visible,” Babu said.
He acknowledged that there would be challenges ahead but
offered his full support to the young citizens.
“A lot can be said, a lot might be done, but I urge you, I’m
with you. On a scale of between zero to 10, I’m with you at 11, supporting
you at 101 per cent. Do it, make us proud, we are with you, I’m in support,’’
he said.
The protests, which erupted in June 2024, were driven by
outrage over what many viewed as punitive taxation under the now-infamous
Finance Bill.
Dozens were killed or injured in the weeks-long standoff
between police and defiant protesters, most of them youth.
Lobby groups placed the number of deaths at over 61, while
official government data puts the number of deaths at 42.
Political activist and ODM youth league leader Kasmuel McOure has also reaffirmed his support for Kenyans youths.
Kasmuel is in the United States for the Mandela Washington Fellowship, said that even though he is away, he stands in solidarity with the youth.
He noted that the youth will eventually liberate the country.
On his part, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has directed police to deal firmly with hired goons during the Gen Z protests scheduled for Wednesday.
According to the CS, the government will not sit back and watch as armed protesters unleash chaos in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).