Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir on Wednesday slammed President William Ruto's close allies over what he described as offering wrong and faulty advice to the Head of the State.
Nassir criticized Ruto's lieutenants for being arrogant and rude, turning a deaf ear to some of the grievances raised by the youths over the contested Finance Bill, 2024.
Speaking on Wednesday during an interview, Abdullswamad said that the government needs to exercise caution following the Anti-Finance bill protests that have rocked most parts of the country over the last two weeks.
"Those surrounding the president are not helping the president by being arrogant to these people or the protestors," he said.
"Talk with your people, not at the people, this is where we are getting it wrong. The young generation wants to be engaged," he added.
The governor further slammed the government for demeaning and taking protestors for granted. He called on the State to back down, engage, and listen to the protesting Kenyans.
"Stop demeaning them and taking them for granted, listen to them, there is nothing wrong in listening and having a conversation."
On account of the obscure scenes witnessed on Tuesday, he pleaded with the youths to exercise their freedom of expression without destroying property.
The Azimio-allied Governor also lauded the youths for coming out in large numbers to express their concerns and their stand on the controversial Finance Bill, 2024.
The right and freedom of expression are enshrined in the constitution of Kenya 2010. The document however prohibits destruction of property and public entities while picketing or demonstrating.
Article 33 (1) of the Constitution grants freedom of expression. It states that every person has the right to freedom of expression. This includes the freedom to seek and receive information or ideas.
In exercising freedom of expression, Article 37 affirms that every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities.
The governor sounded a strong warning to the youth to refrain from looting and burning property.
"I support that everyone has the right to assemble and picket but the younger generation should stop looting and burning property."
This comes against the backdrop of one of the historic Anti-Finance Bill protests that saw youths storm Parliament buildings on Tuesday.
