Ruto, Raila hypocrisy: How Rose Njeri arrest undermines President's apology to Gen Z

Last week, during the national prayer day, the spotlight fell on President William Ruto’s apology to Gen Z, a gesture some hailed as the dawn of a new era.

While many Kenyans welcomed the apology as a positive step forward, others dismissed it as mere rhetoric, insisting it must be backed by meaningful action.

However, the mood quickly soured just two days later with the arrest of Rose Njeri, an anaemic mother of two and activist, leaving human rights defenders questioning whether the apology was anything more than a blanket statement.

On Wednesday, President William Ruto offered his apology during the ‘Rise and Rebuild’ prayer breakfast, a moment that sparked both praise and criticism.

“Our children are a heritage given to us by God… To our children, if there is any misstep, we apologise to our neighbours. If there is any misstep we have made, we want to build the relationship that will make our country great and take us forward. I know today, God, in His own way, has made it possible for us to build bridges between our political parties,” the President said.

Yesterday, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga added another dimension to the debate during Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay, appealing passionately to the President, stating that an apology alone would not suffice.

Raila urged the President to ensure that the families of those who lost their lives, as well as the injured, receive compensation as a means of closure.

“We have had several challenges—two years ago, people were on the streets, and even last year, the Gen Zs. I saw that during the prayer breakfast, apologies were made, which is wonderful as a first step to reconciliation,” Raila said.

He added: “There is also the issue of those who were injured and others who died during that time. I want to say today that we should compensate the families of those who died and those who were injured, so we can close this chapter of our nation’s history. We want Kenyans to live in peace and unity.”

Raila  made these remarks in the presence of dignitaries, including the visiting President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, who stated that Madaraka marked a turning point in Kenya’s ability to shape its own destiny.

“Kenyans wrote a pivotal chapter in history—Madaraka Day, when Kenya finally secured the right to shape its future,” she said.

Now more than ever, Kenya’s youth are rewriting the rules of civic engagement—driven, defiant, and determined to reset and rebuild a nation they believe has long sidelined them.

No longer content to shout from the sidelines, Gen Z has planted itself firmly at the centre of governance, stepping into spaces once reserved for seasoned politicians, and doing so with clarity, courage, and conviction.

From the streets to social media, whenever national decisions are being made, Gen Z are standing up to be counted—participating directly, without fear.

Although the exact reasons for her arrest remain unclear, Rose Njeri is believed to have used her IT skills to develop an online portal that allowed Kenyans to submit their views on the Finance Bill 2025, highlighting sections she considered problematic.

Since Friday, Njeri has been held in custody, prompting increasing calls for her release.

Njeri’s detention has triggered a groundswell of outrage, with human rights advocates decrying it as not just a personal injustice, but a chilling echo of the state-led crackdown Gen Z faced last year.

Adding his voice to the chorus, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga rekindled bitter memories of 2024, when Gen Z lambasted his unexpected truce with the very system they were fighting to change.

Last July, Raila faced Gen Z’s backlash on social media after he called for national dialogue, just days after young protestors had asked him to stay out of their fight for better governance through mass demonstrations.

When Raila and Ruto later appeared together at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) for the signing of the IEBC Amendment Bill 2024, it provoked outrage among Gen Z, who vocally rejected so-called ‘handshake politics’.

Soon after, Raila outlined at least six key issues requiring urgent attention, including full compensation for victims of police brutality and the withdrawal of all protest-related charges.

“Once these matters are addressed, we can begin a national conversation—one that should take place transparently, in a neutral venue,” he clarified.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the current generation owes those who fought for Kenya’s political freedom a debt—the fight for economic liberation.

He expressed confidence that Kenya is on a path to repaying its historical debt to the forefathers who fought for self-rule and governance.

“We are creating a more inclusive Kenya from an economic perspective… I urge that we involve all generations so that young people, elders, children, and future generations all feel part of one ecosystem, because we all belong to this country,” he said.

Kindiki emphasised that no generation is superior to another, stating that everyone, from the elderly to the youth and children, has a role to play.

Despite this, human rights activists have condemned Njeri’s arrest, regretting that it coincided with Kenya’s 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations.

Activist Hussein Khalid described it as regrettable that Njeri remains in custody rather than being celebrated for promoting public participation.

“This Madaraka Day, I dedicate it to Rose Njeri—the brilliant young lady who created a website to help Kenyans contribute to the Finance Bill 2025 public participation exercise. Instead of honouring her, they’ve locked her up and denied her bail. This Madaraka Day, we say ‘Not Yet Madaraka’,” he wrote on social media.

Another activist, Boniface Mwangi, added: “It’s a beautiful day to fight for our rights. Rose Njeri is in custody for making it easier for Kenyans to formally object to the proposed Finance Bill 2025. I have two broken toes and several fractures, but I’m heading to Pangani Police Station to get her released.”

He continued, “Either the police grant her the bail she’s entitled to, or we shut down the station. Her rights have been violated, and we must demand her immediate release. It is our constitutional right to protest. We fear neither Ruto, arrest, nor death. We shall not kneel before a thief or a murderer. Ruto will go, like it or not. Kenya is not his personal property!”

Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia also demanded Njeri’s release, stating that the government must stop intimidating youth who challenge oppressive and retrogressive policies.

“We demand the immediate release of Rose Njeri, held for opposing the Finance Bill 2025! This regime must stop intimidating young Kenyans and leaders opposed to its repressive agenda!” he said on social media.

Opposition leaders have also dismissed Ruto’s apology, asserting that there can be no forgiveness without justice and that bereaved families continue to mourn their losses.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, for instance, rejected the apology, describing it as insincere and casually delivered.

“How do you casually apologise for the loss of lives? If Ruto is serious, he should meet with the families of the abducted and the dead, offer a direct apology, and discuss compensation. This is about human lives—not something to be brushed aside,” he said.

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba called the apology ‘empty rhetoric’ and an ‘open retort’, arguing that it was too general and failed to address the nation’s challenges.

“He apologised to young people. I believe it was a sweeping apology, and it’s hard to accept when the issues causing the rift between him and the youth remain unresolved,” she told reporters at Parliament.

Meanwhile, calls to reject the Finance Bill 2025 continue to gain traction, with public participation spearheaded by the National Assembly’s Finance Committee currently underway.