The Bunge La Mwananchi, a prominent social justice movement in Kenya, has written to President William Ruto to spearhead the commencement of a structured National Dialogue that will help end the deadly antigovernment protests that have rocket the country since June, 2024.
According to Bunge La Mwanchi, the Gen Z protests have unfortunately resulted to loss of lives, destruction of property, and disruption of Kenya’s development trajectory and it is time for the immediate cessation of the ongoing Gen Z protests and the commencement of a structured National Dialogue.
In a letter signed by Maurice Masiga, the Deputy President of Bunge La Mwananchi (BLM) Kenya, the movement that has been in existence for over twenty years noted that this dialogue, as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya will presents an opportunity for all stakeholders to come together to identify root causes of our national challenges, propose sustainable solutions and foster unity and reconciliation.
“As an organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of all Kenyans, Bunge La Mwananchi has been vocal in opposing your government’s handling of issues such as corruption and impunity, which continue to undermine our country’s progress and prosperity. These challenges have fueled discontent among the youth, leading to protests. We call on you to convene national dialogue which will help us find a lasting solution,” Masiga said.
Bunge La Mwananchi has called on its members nationally to exercise their sovereign right by supporting the call for dialogue as proposed by President Ruto with a proposal for all the 47 County branches of the movement to initiate urgent plans for grassroots dialogues to address issues of utmost concern to Kenyans at the national, county, and grassroots levels.
Masiga, in the letter continued that once these county-level dialogues are completed, each county will select two male and two female representatives to convene at the Bunge La Mwananchi Dialogue Assembly which the movement’s leadership believes will provide a platform for these representatives to engage with national leaders to deliberate on key national issues and chart a collective way.
“We believe that through sincere and inclusive dialogue, we can mitigate current tensions, restore peace, and collectively work towards a prosperous and harmonious Kenya. BLM is committed to actively participating in this dialogue process and contributing constructively to the nation-building efforts,” the letter to the Head of State continues.
Bunge la Mwananchi, a prominent social justice movement. Founded in the early 1990s as a social movement during a one-party state, Bunge la Mwananchi aims to keep the ruling government in check.
