National Rainbow Coalition party leader Charity Ngilu has commended the young generation for their courage and bravery in spearheading the reform agenda in the country.

Youthful Kenyans who fall within the Generation Z bracket have made it their business to hold the government to account with unprecedented steadfastness in demanding better governance from the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration.

Their rage was sparked by government’s determination to introduce new taxes under the Finance Bill, 2024 despite widespread outrage and opposition to the new tax regime.

After a series of protests that turned bloody at some point, President William Ruto gave in to pressure and withdrew the piece of legislation.

Ngilu, a former Cabinet minister in the Jubilee government and a multiparty democracy agitator, commended the Gen Z for the boldness they have exhibited saying their actions will down into the annals of history.

“Thank you Gen Z for picking up the fight we started many years ago. Your courage and bravery will forever be etched in our history and inspire generations to come,” Ngilu said on X.

She accompanied her message with a photo where she was part of peaceful demonstrations organised by the National Convention Executive Council (NCEC) calling for public participation in the repeal of the Constitution.

NCEC was an alliance of political parties, human rights, legal and religious groups that came together during the Kanu era to push for Constitutional reform in Kenya.

“No participation, no changing Constitution, no taxation,” read the placards in the photo.

NCEC's campaign prompted serious civil unrest and instability and on July 7, 1997, the violence reached new levels after security forces responded with brute force against demonstrators resulting in several deaths.

That day, dubbed Saba Saba, has since remained etched in Kenya's history and has been used by those agitating for change to pass their message to the government of the day.

Ngilu said the push for reforms in the country started many years ago should continue.

“The future is not tomorrow, the future is now. Aluta continua,” she said.

Kenya’s Gen Z have made global headlines after they stood up to the government amid brute repulsion from the police and demanded that the Finance Bill be withdrawn in totality.

Parliament’s decision to strike out contentious clauses from the Bill did little to appease the youngsters who insisted that the whole legislation be trashed.

MPs defied and passed the Bill on Tuesday, June 25 even as the young protesters roamed the streets threatening to occupy Parliament.

And occupy they did, sending the lawmakers into momentary panic as they ransacked the Senate and set part of the House on fire.

Police responded with brute force, allegedly shooting some protesters dead but the group surged forward.

A day later, President William Ruto withdrew the Bill and later constituted a National Multi-Sectoral Forum to spearhead talks with the youth over the issues they raised.

The Gen Z declined the invitation and demanded that the President speak to them via a forum they are comfortable with; Space on X.

On Friday, the President engaged the youth for three hours on the platform and fielded questions in an unprecedented development never witnessed before.

Ruto said he heard the youth loud and clear and going forward, will utilise the rich feedback from the young generation to help improve his administration.

"My administration has always believed in listening and engaging and that is why I go around the country to engage people. I rarely sit in the office,” he said.

“I have gone home with 'I need to listen more, I need more empathy'. My administration needs more empathy and I have heard you say more action," he added.