Politicians have clashed over President William Ruto’s national apology to Gen Z following their brush with authorities at the climax of anti-government protests in 2024.

On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the President asked the youth to forgive him, signalling a conciliatory approach ahead of the 2027 polls.

Kenya’s youth are expected to make up more than half of the electorate in the 2027 elections, with political camps already scrambling for their attention.

Speaking during the National Prayers held at Safari Park Hotel, the President emphasised the importance of unity, stating, “Where there is unity, God commands a blessing.”

“To our children, if there has been any misstep, we apologise,” he said, addressing the country’s young people—popularly known as Gen Z—who have been a persistent challenge to his administration.

Appearing before an interview panel on a local TV station on Thursday, May 29, 2025, former West Pokot Senator Samwel Poghisio lauded the President’s apology, saying he had shown humility by publicly admitting his faults.

“I believe that if a man can go on public television during a prayer breakfast and say ‘I am sorry,’ that is a show of humility,” Poghisio said.

 When asked what would happen if the President went back on his word, Poghisio said: “If I wrong you and say sorry, then wrong you again, it means I wasn’t genuine.”

The former Senate Majority Leader urged Kenyans to give the Head of State the benefit of the doubt and allow room for reconciliation following the apology.

However, Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo said the President should not stop at words, but rather follow through with concrete actions, including a reconciliation program involving the affected youth and families, possibly with compensation.

“If the President is truly apologetic to the young people, he should go to Kenyatta Hospital, apologise to them in person, and settle their bills,” Maanzo said during the same TV interview.

Maanzo noted that the apology was an important first step in acknowledging that mistakes were made during the Gen Z demonstrations.

“If I were the President, I would go to Kenyatta Hospital today and mobilise state machinery to take my apology to the next level by visiting the victims in hospital and even at the mortuary,” he said.

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, however, dismissed the apology, saying young people would not accept it.

“They want us to forgive and forget—we are neither forgiving nor forgetting. They should know the apology is rejected,” he wrote on his X page.

To add, Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa, who is a staunch ally of former Deputy President Righathi Gachagua, has also criticised Ruto’s apology, terming it hypocritical in light of ongoing injustices within the United Democratic Alliance faction.

In a statement shared on his official X account on Thursday, May 29, 2025, Karungo said the President cannot genuinely seek forgiveness from the youth while punishing dissenting voices within his own party.

“You ask dead Gen Zs to forgive you, yet you cannot forgive others. You cannot even forgive a young Kisii girl called Gloria Orwoba,” he posted.

“The best way to ask for forgiveness is to do the right thing, uphold the law, compensate victims, stop excessive taxation, end the weaponisation of state agencies, and above all, skiza ground,” he said, urging leaders to listen to public sentiment.