President William Ruto has vowed swift and decisive action against the “goons” who invaded and torched Parliament Buildings.
Ruto condemned the actions of those who exploited a peaceful protest against the Finance Bill to commit acts of arson and vandalism, labeling them as criminals who must face the full force of the law.
“Those who set fire to Parliament are not our children; they are criminals, and we will hunt them down. They will not escape. You cannot destroy public property,” Ruto stated.
Speaking during a meeting with bishops from the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA), Ruto emphasized that while the youth had every right to protest, it was unacceptable for a few individuals to use the opportunity for criminal activities. He stressed the need to distinguish between legitimate concerns raised by the youth and the actions of those engaging in destruction and looting.
“How is destroying, looting property, or burning a CDF office going to help address the issues being raised?” Ruto questioned. “We must separate the issues raised by our young people and the criminality of those looting people’s shops. These are separate issues, and we must deal with them accordingly.”
He also defended the peaceful youth who participated in the protest, noting their actions were carried out irrespective of their tribes.
Ruto expressed optimism that the planned multi-sectoral engagements would help address the country’s pressing issues. Head of Public Service Felix Koskei initiated the national dialogue process on Saturday, calling for nominations from national-level umbrella organizations representing various sectors, including youth, civil society, religious groups, professional bodies, business communities, academia, student leadership, and other stakeholders.
Koskei announced that these representatives would form the National Steering Committee of the National Multi-Sectoral Forum (NMSF), which will provide the framework, modalities, agenda, and timelines for nationwide dialogue on key issues raised by the youth. These issues include employment, tax policy, national debt burden, representation and accountability, anti-corruption measures, and other relevant topics.
“Each umbrella body is requested to nominate two representatives of either gender for consideration to the NSC,” Koskei stated. “The nominations should be addressed to the Executive Office of the President, Harambee House.”