As youth-led protests sweep across Kenya, Charlene Ruto, daughter of President William Ruto, has spoken out appealing to young Kenyans to move from confrontation to conversation.
In a heartfelt statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Charlene said the current wave of demonstrations shows that “young people are actually looking for connection, not conflict; a platform, not destruction.”
“For the last three years,” she wrote, “I’ve quickly learnt that youth want mentorship, not violence. They want to be part of the solution not the problem.”
Her comments come during a tense moment in the country. Thousands of young people, mainly Gen Z, have been protesting across towns and cities, calling for transparency, justice, and an end to perceived government excesses. While many protests have been peaceful, others turned violent after being hijacked by criminal elements resulting in looted shops, damaged infrastructure, and injuries.
Charlene’s words aim to strike a balance: recognising the energy and frustration of young Kenyans while urging them to redirect it toward nation-building.
“The conversation is no longer about demanding a seat at the table,” she said. “It’s about earning a place in each other’s hearts.”
She also warned against falling into divisive traps be they generational, tribal, or racial and took a swipe at toxic online behaviour that often spreads under popular trends like #kusalimiawatu (a phrase now synonymous with sarcastic online attacks).
As someone who’s been on the receiving end of these digital mobs, Charlene called for respectful dialogue and reform-driven engagement. She challenged her peers to “turn passion into policy, ideas into action, and emotions into patriotism.”
“Diverse voices, different opinions, dynamic perspectives but one people,” she said in a closing remark that quickly caught traction online.
