Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on Gen Zs to ensure they acquire national identity cards in readiness to vote in the next election, as they, alongside millennials, are the ones who will dictate the outcome of those polls.
The former second-in-command was speaking after being hosted by a section of youth in a TikTok live session on Thursday, January 23, 2025, where he urged them to make every effort to ensure they are not left out of the upcoming polls.
Gachagua, during the live session, was discussing the various issues that have caused his relationship with his former boss to reach a boiling point when he remembered how thorough Gen Zs had become in faulting the head of state.
He expressed admiration for their efforts, saying he was optimistic about their ability to bring the country back on track.
“Let me tell my children, the Gen Zs, I love you so much, and you have the capacity to bring transformative change to this country. But I want to plead with you that what you are doing on the online space is not enough. You have a date with destiny. It is our young people who will create the right leadership in this country.”
Country in Gen Zs hands
Gachagua then reminded Gen Zs that the nation’s destiny rested in their hands and cautioned them against taking this responsibility lightly.
He praised their recent use of social media to hold the government accountable, acknowledging that their online activism had already influenced leadership behaviors. He encouraged them to harness digital platforms with even greater vigor and purpose.
Describing social media as a revolutionary tool, Gachagua asserted that President William Ruto’s government no longer had the power to control or censor public opinion.
He reflected on how times had changed from the days when governments could manipulate mainstream media to suppress unfavorable narratives.
“In terms of social media, it is a revolution. You know, long ago, when we only had KBC, the government could censor news and control what people knew. Today, even if you bribe the mainstream media not to air what Rigathi Gachagua has said, social media will still broadcast it. By the time we get to the evening news, people on social media will already know what has happened.”
Gachagua, who was recently confronted at a burial in Kiambu, stressed that social media had emerged as a tool for transformation and an oversight mechanism whose time had come in Kenya.
Indiscipline
Speaking with palpable frustration, Gachagua also addressed recent comments by President William Ruto, who suggested that Gen Zs must embrace discipline to stop the wave of abductions plaguing the country.
Ruto’s remarks came amid a surge of protests following the disappearance of over ten young people within days. Most of the missing individuals were known to have been vocal critics of the government, sparking outrage from activists and human rights groups, who demanded their release and called for demonstrations.
In response, Gachagua defended the youth, insisting that no one had the authority to dictate how they used social media, calling this era a completely different chapter in Kenya’s history.
“I want to urge you to continue using social media as a tool for change and as an oversight mechanism for this country. Our young people, we salute you, and let no one call you criminals. Let no one tell us, as parents, that we have raised our children poorly,” he concluded.
