Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti speaking during a Church service at Katangi. Photo Courtesy. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has urged President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration to listen keenly to the concerns of Kenya’s youth—especially Generation Z—who have been at the forefront of peaceful protests highlighting their frustrations with governance and national leadership.
Speaking during a church service at Katangi Ward in Yatta Sub-county, Machakos County, the Governor expressed alarm at the government’s heavy-handed response to the youth-led demonstrations.
She cautioned that some leaders close to the President were worsening tensions by mishandling the situation.
“Some of your people, Mr. President, are the ones getting you into trouble. They should reflect and act responsibly. The young people being harmed are like their own children,” Wavinya stated.
She appealed to the government to allow the youth space to grieve their peers who lost their lives during last year’s Gen Z protests, while also emphasizing the importance of upholding law and order with dignity.
“If they want to mourn their friends, let them do so in peace. Our security agencies must do their work diligently—defend the country within the law—and ensure that no goons hijack peaceful demonstrations as we witnessed previously,” she said.
Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi echoed her sentiments, underscoring the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
“Every Kenyan has the right to speak and assemble peacefully. I pray the government protects the youth as they exercise their democratic freedoms. Let us not meet them with bullets,” Mwangangi said.
Governor Wavinya also used the platform to reaffirm her political loyalty to Wiper Democratic Movement Party leader Dr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, calling on the Kamba community to unite behind him ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“I remain fully loyal to my party leader, Dr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka. He is a principled, visionary leader with the best interests of this nation at heart. As a community, we must rally behind him and elect leaders under the Wiper banner to give him the strength and support he needs as we approach 2027,” she said.
