Nairobi –
Popular Kenyan singer and entrepreneur Akothee, born Esther Akoth Kokeyo, has made a passionate public appeal to President William Ruto, urging him to listen to the concerns of young people and open the doors for national dialogue.
In an open letter now widely shared online, the artist – who also describes herself as the President of Single Mothers – calls for an urgent conversation between the government, parents, and Kenya’s restless youth, especially members of Generation Z, who have been at the forefront of recent protests.
“I write to you not just as a citizen, but as a mother -a single mother of Gen Zs – and as a Kenyan who still believes in the soul of this country,” she begins.
Akothee’s letter comes amid growing tension across the country. Protests have rocked major cities in recent weeks, sparked by a controversial finance bill that many Kenyans felt would worsen already high living costs. Though the bill has since been withdrawn, the unrest has continued, fuelled by broader frustrations over governance, unemployment, and police brutality.
For Akothee, the issue is not just political – it’s deeply personal.
“Our streets carry tension. The air is heavy with grief,” she writes. “Families are burying loved ones. Businesses are under siege. Hope is slipping away.”
She criticises the government’s attempt to promote Kenya as a safe tourist destination while images of burning streets and bleeding youth make international headlines.
“We cannot preach peace to the world while our own children are in pain,” she warns.
But unlike some who have taken to protest or condemnation, Akothee offers a different approach: conversation.
“This is not about blame,” she says. “It is about responsibility -collective, shared responsibility. When we pull against each other, we all lose. Kenya loses.”
Akothee says she understands the anger felt by many young people. She believes their storming of Parliament during recent demonstrations was more than an act of defiance -it was a desperate cry to be acknowledged.
“Maybe that’s why they tried to enter Parliament,” she writes. “Not just to protest, but to be seen. To feel that their voice matters.”
She condemns violence from all sides, but insists that ignoring the frustration will only deepen the wounds.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right,” she says. “Violence only adds to the pain.”
In her appeal, Akothee formally asks President Ruto to grant mothers, parents, and youth a meeting at State House -not for political theatre, but for meaningful discussion.
“Give us a platform to speak, to share, to dialogue,” she pleads. “Let us reason together.”
Her message is rooted in her identity – as an artist, a mother of five, and a woman who has overcome hardship. She says Kenyan mothers are ready to help heal the nation’s wounds, but they need leaders to open their ears.
“Dialogue is not weakness – it is wisdom. Listening is not surrender – it is strength,” she writes. “Mothers never go wrong with their instincts.”
The letter has struck a chord with many Kenyans online, especially parents who feel caught between rising tensions and a government slow to respond. Supporters say Akothee’s call for peace and understanding reflects what many are thinking but few are saying publicly.
As of now, State House has not issued a response to her request.
But Akothee’s voice – familiar from stages and social media – now carries a different weight. She is no longer just singing to fans. She is speaking to power, on behalf of the country’s most vulnerable: the children.
And in her words, the message is simple: “Let us stop the demonstrations, and start a conversation. We can still salvage this country.”
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