Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria on Tuesday asked young Kenyans now widely known as Gen Zs to call off protests after a wave of demonstrations.
Kuria described Tuesday's protests as underwhelming which he used as a basis to urge them to shift their focus from advocating for a regime change to ensuring those who lost their lives did not die in vain.
The politician taking to social media added that it was time to consider retreating.
"Dear Gen Z, the issues you have brought forth are real and indelible. The national discourse will never be the same again. But let us face it, it's over, today was underwhelming," he wrote.
His remarks were met with mixed reactions as a section of Kenyans emphasised that Kenyans would continue staging protests until their demands were met.
Additionally, they opposed the call for dialogue arguing that this was not the right way to resolve the matter. They opined that the dialogue was a way to silence the young Kenyans.
On the other hand, another group of Kenyans backed the former Gatundu South MP's sentiments.
Notably, Moses Kuria has been less vocal about the ongoing protests that have claimed over 40 lives since the beginning of June 18. Other former Cabinet Secretaries and MPs had also dismissed the protests which stemmed from rejection of the now-withdrawn Finance Bill 2024.
On July 14, the former CS in an interview revealed that he regretted talking down on Gen Z protests.
This was before he was dismissed alongside his colleagues who served in the now-dissolved cabinet. At the time, Kuria emphasised that he supported dissolution if that meant steering Kenya forward.
"The Gen Z have proven me wrong, they have shown me that they can be an important engine of taking this country forward and refocusing it. If I have my wish, I want to be Gen Z," he remarked.
Protests in the country are expected to continue on Thursday as young Kenyans continue agitating for change and accountability from government officials.
Despite the loss of lives and destruction of property, the protests have achieved some good things such as the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, dismissal of the cabinet, announcement of austerity measures and dissolution of some parastatals.
