The Gen Z’s protests on Rejecting the finance bill 2024.
Besides providing substantive details, the opinion pieces made appeals to MPs. Two excerpts illustrate this. In the Daily Nation piece, we said, “Through the Land Laws (Amendment) (No 2) Bill of 2023, the government intends to have owners of freehold land within urban or city areas pay an annual land levy on freehold property.
Lawmakers must be aware of the implications of this provision for themselves, and Kenyans with freehold properties within urban or city boundaries. They must reject the proposal.”
I had concluded my Business Daily contribution on the subject with an appeal that noted, “I suspect that members of the Lands Committee may have got convinced that the proposal is inappropriate. They, however, retain the discretion to decide and accordingly guide the whole house.
“Let them be bold enough to advise that the provision completely subverts our tenure doctrine, and will burden many freehold landowners who, until now, have been happily enjoying their ancestral rights without minding such annual payments.”
Last week’s protests threw this matter back into public discourse. From the social media posts, I was happy to note that Gen Z has taken an interest in land matters. I was glad to see senior citizens and the business community appreciate the threat the proposed annual levy poses to freehold land interests. There has since been communication that the Bill has been shelved. Let’s nonetheless remain vigilant.
The Petitioner, Peter Agoro
Kenyan Gen Z Demonstrations
National Youth council to hold new elections
New Elections
Petition Filed To Compel National Youth Council To Hold Elections
A petition has been filed seeking to compel the National Youth Council to conduct elections for the youth representatives as provided in the constitution. In his petition, Peter Agoro argues that the council was established to represent the interests of the youth in Kenya, facilitating their involvement in the socio-economic and political development of the country. He argues that the failure to conduct the required elections has led to a lack of proper representation for the youth.
“Efforts to address this issue with the respondent and other relevant bodies have been met with unsatisfactory responses, adding that the continued delay in conducting elections denies the youth their right to representation and participation in national development.
“It undermines the democratic process and the respondent’s credibility,” Agoro argues.
He argues that regular elections are crucial for maintaining the legitimacy and accountability of the Council.
“The elections ensure that council members are representatives of the youth’s current needs and aspirations,” reads court papers.
Similarly, he claims that the delay in conducting the said elections has resulted in prolonged periods of inadequate representation, affecting the council’s ability to address and advocate for youth issues effectively.”
