Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged the country’s youth, who have been identifying themselves as Gen Z, to carry on with their fight for good leadership.

Speaking on Saturday, January 25, 2025, when he paid a courtesy call to Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua at her Kimunye home in Kirinyaga County, Gachagua commended the Gen Z for what he termed as a job well done.

Gachagua condemned President William Ruto for what he termed as going after the country’s children, who are only fighting for their rights.

“The way this country is going, there will be no country,” Gachagua said.

Oversight

He went ahead to point out that all institutions of oversight have been compromised, leaving the Gen Zs with no option but to fight for themselves.

Gachagua also told President Ruto to stop intimidating the youths, arguing that he is the one who led to the emergence of the Gen Zs.

“We want to encourage our young people that they are on the right side of history. I want to affirm my sons and daughters, the Gen Zs: Please carry on; you are doing a good job, and don’t fear because if you don’t, there is nobody else who will do it. All institutions of oversight have been compromised, both the National Assembly and the Senate….And I told President William Ruto to stop crying about the Gen Zs because it is his own creation because nature abhors a vacuum,” Gachagua said.

“I want to tell the Gen Zs that what you are doing on smartphones is very good, and I want to encourage you, and I want to say congratulations. But that is not enough; the actual transformation of this country would be on the ballot. The public awareness on the smartphone is good, but the final transformation of getting good leadership will be on the ballot, so I want to encourage the Gen Zs to register as voters.”

Uhuru on Gen Zs

Gachagua’s statement comes barely a week after former President Uhuru Kenyatta urged the Gen Zs to continue fighting for their rights.

The former Head of State made the comment when he attended the burial of his cousin Kibathi Muigai on Friday, January 17, 2025, in Ichaweri, Gatundu South.

While addressing the congregation that cheered almost every word he uttered, Uhuru said the Kenyan youth, who have popularly been referred to as the Gen Z should continue fighting for their rights without surrender.

“Shida ya watu siku hizi, sijui mumeogopeshwa. Ma Gen Z nyinyi ndio the story of the future. Fight for your rights bwana. 

“Sio kukaa hapo mali yenu ichukuliwe na nyinyi mumetolea jasho. Msikubali. Pambaneni muhakikishe mumepata haki yenu. Munasikia nyinyi? Sio kukaa kaa hapo tu.

“Hakuna kitu inadumu. But everything is worth a fight for. If you do not fight for it ikienda mtu asilie. Msimame mpiganie haki yenu na mko na hawa watu ambao wamebaki na wako tayari kupigania haki yao, waungane pamoja nanyi. You cannot just stand there and let people take your hard-earned sweat,” Uhuru said.

While urging Gen Z to continue with a fighting spirit, he suggested that he supports them even though he would not take an active role.

“Dunia haiendi namna hio. Muwe watu ambao hawataogopa. Teteeni haki zenu sio kukaa kaa tu mnaogopa kuogopa sasa ni sisi. Sisi tutulie Nyinyi ndio mko na nguvu ya kupambana na hii watu. But we are behind you, muendelee namna hio,” he added.