 Welcome back. We are now joined by our visitor who is well equipped and ready to talk to us about youth and politics. Everything that is happening here in Kenya, especially that has happened last week, and we are still to expect. For this conversation, I am joined by Juan Koech Ken, who is the Secretary General of Zitech University of Kenya. I am glad to have you with us. What is your mandate first at Zitech University before we get into politics so that people get to know you? I am Koech Ken, current Secretary General of Zitech University. I was elected two months ago in that position. Secretary General is a position that in charge of communication, you are like the spokesperson of the comrades. So you speak on behalf of the comrades, basically. All right, two months all into leadership. How is it for you? Experience somehow, some connection. Okay, let's get into Kenyan politics. So much has been happening. You know, taking a look at today's paper, we can let's start with that. Raila to a new fight with Ruto, tag of war, it says, as leader said to heat the streets, hold public barrazas and trigger court action in three pronged onslaughts on Kenya, Kwanzaa, and we get the whole story on page four. Let's start with that, Koech. What do you make of it? I'm imagining that this is a call for Manda Manu, which could begin tomorrow. What do you think? I think the Manda Manu that is being organized to start from tomorrow is based on the financial bill 2023 that was passed by our national assembly. I think that would be the main agenda of that Manda Manu most likely because of the economy issues. Yeah, and to do it, they're going to take it to court where they're going to ask for changes in certain clauses that are there. But before we get to the court matter, for the Manda Manu about the finance bill, do you think it's necessary? Do you think action will be taken? Are people now ready for Manda Manu both sides of the political divide, both that supported UDA and both that supported Azimio, now that there's a matter that has cut across all Kenyans, which is the finance bill, and many Kenyans have been hurt by it from both sides of political divide. So do you think this is actually something that will call for many Kenyans to be on the streets tomorrow if it will happen? Okay, personally I think the Manda Manu people are going to aspire our position leader tomorrow. It's necessary because currently we need everyone on board for us to discuss because we are at a risk, we are at a almost a coma as a country on matters to the economy. So if we say that we organize a Manda Manu, we've already seen the Manda Manu that was organized around one Manego, youths being involved in Manda Manu and demonstrations and demolition of infrastructure and so forth, so it will definitely it will not bring a solution to the challenges that are affecting the current one inch. Okay, so you're saying it wouldn't be a solution and the people need to discuss but someone sitting out there would think they give their public opinion about the finance bill, particularly that about many other things like the VAT. Many Kenyans will also be affected by that. So public opinion, they gave out during the time the committee was sitting and they don't feel like the leaders really represented them because a large number of leaders voted yes for both the finance bill and the VAT. So do you think there's any other way that people can talk about it? This is something that's going to be affected if at all the court case will not we will be dropped. Do you think that people can still discuss about it Kenyans? Firstly I think after the public Barassas and West oil concerning the financial bill for example housing it was a three percent tax or what to be dictated for housing but after the committee sat down and discussed about the same they decided to be one point five. I think it's understandable and for now I think it's almost the end of June and financially for 2023-2024 your start of which I think it will be late for the government to settle and to organize for another public Barassas for about the same. Okay so you're for let it just pass as it is yeah the way it is and move on do you think do not think or that you will be affected as a Kenyan with the increase in taxes from 8% to 6% which will on VAT on fuel so that will increase prices across the board. Don't you think that will affect you as a Kenyan? I think concerning from is it from 8 to 16 yeah I think the president was clear on matters to do with some I think some VAT was removed completely on some commodities I think it was food or what and it was sorted on fuel and what I think some of it was balanced but we'll have to bear with it for a period of time as to say but Mr President. Okay so still on that part before we move on from it on page four still on Azimio it says talk talking about the court case so Azimio legislators we have Anthony Oluwatch MP Mazzare we have Otiende Amolo MP Rariada and Daniel Manzo who's McQuainy senator I've already been enjoined in the case filed by Boussia Senator Okeom Tata against the finance bill so this is a case that is already in court so we it's can't really pass even if the president consents it until the court case has been had and in the petition Omtata and seven others argue that the bill is a threat to human dignity and social economy crime so how do you see this burning out from your point of view Ken how do you see this burning out you see that the court we know we don't want to preempt what the court will do but how do you see this thing burning out concerning the court issues I think Ken is a democratic republic and I accept the procedure all that it has taken it has been taken by the minority side by the Okeom Tata and minority leader concerning the same so if that's the channel they have taken it's important concerning interest of Kenyan then going to streets yeah so this is a better solution it's a better solution okay so what about the Kamukunjiralli that is going to take place tomorrow according to what the minority leader is saying uh thing tomorrow's meeting at Kamukunjir is beginning of is the beginning of a conversation with Kenyans according to Azmiu leadership and Azmiu this is not something that we've really uh is geared towards causing uh disturbance to the nation or get towards causing violence they are calling it a talk a conversation with the Kenyans they want to hear from Kenyans what do you think about it I think if it's a conversation between them and Kenyans about the same financial will I think it's right as long as they don't do any demolition or destruction of infrastructure of the country and I will also give my advice that they go the minority as by the minority leader opi oandai root of going to the court procedural yeah okay interesting now changing gears a little bit uh something that has not been captured in this paper or at least have not seen it yet um what was going on last week the CS trade uh Musa skorya was you know had uh an exchange not really an exchange but he had some vulgar words to exchange with the media and uh he was really against the media and we have seen that um the dp coming on board and he said sort of backing him up not in entirety because him and the president say that the media have their freedom so but still the according to what the president said yesterday is that as much as the media has the freedom uh the CS that if he was alluding to the CS he also has his freedom of speech so this coming from the government and you know causing extractions with the people because the people most people at least expected that the government will come and condemn what the CS did you know what the CS said to the media because he also went to his twitter page and talked negatively abusing abusive language towards the media so what do you what do you make of it concerning the same about musa skorya i think mister mister trade affairs isn't it straight yeah i think it's it's portrayed a bad picture to a country for him first holding a public office and making such utterances to a media that is uh democratic democratically recognized and is that's been championing kenyan affairs since independence secondly i think after his speech and after the court order he went ahead and called the media or what prostitutes like something like that in the kikuyu language if i'm not wrong i think it was being analyzed by citizen tv yeah i think it's not that it portrays a bad picture to the public okay and it was also mentioned that the media will soon fade you know this also coming from the government um just trying to you know uh sort of okay that was some sort of what was said that the media will will soon fade do you think that the media now has the freedom that it should have compared to where it has come from during the regime of the late president uh daniel moey till where we are now are we going back to how we towards or are we really given the freedom that the media needs i think we are not going back since we are being given room to strengthen and be fair as by media because i think if the president saying fairness is because i think president was in france the other day and if you compare the means that uh for example sits in tv are discussing affairs concerning royal media they are discussing affairs concerning uh how about the financial release and demand us how they are organized and the minister being given to the mr president when he was discussing issues concerning africa's a continent and kenya affairs he was giving at least a minute yet he was discussing very important issues that's where mr president is insisting on fairness okay so you were saying sorry um i'd want you to come back on that who was given one minute compared to the others i think mr president was given a minute when we're discussing uh affairs concerning africans and kenya in france it was yesterday or the other day they already in france yeah okay went to spring air in city news it was around nine or seven news seven p.m news okay so the media is not giving yeah enough air time for important issues and only airing do you do you think that's the case from where you're standing do you according to how you watch the media is that the picture that it portrays is that the news that is given or do you think the media gives kenyans what they actually need to know this is referring to the scandal that was exposed by uh n tv yeah you know a docket uh that is uh headed by the c s chain versus courier on on matters or which has hasn't really been talked on by the government they're they haven't really given a reply to it do you think that it has that those matters or but is that the government wants to see i think there's no problem when the media recognizes some scandals and expose it i think that is what kenyans want to know since kenyans are concerned about whether the tax that they are being caused to and what they play yeah and also the government want to show the kenyans that we have done this and this so also media channel this information that mr president has done this today mr deputy president has done this today our cabinet prime cabinet has done this today so yeah the same yeah okay so now back to what the president said quoting um his words he said we must defend the media the free media we must uh defend the right to criticize to say well whatever they want to say even to write propaganda even to say the wrong things we must defend that right we must also defend the right of those who hold the media to account yeah when the media goes wrong we must also defend the rights of people like moses courier to speak their mind the same way we are defending the media to all the things they want to say including the wrong ones so this was the statement by the president and there's something that i heard sometime ago last week i think was talking about freedom so it was saying my freedom ends where yours begins this was said by one grace gevaiga my freedom ends where yours begins so what the president saying is that the media has its freedom and moses courier also has its freedom but where does the freedom of someone like moses courier end does it end where the media freedom begins i don't know if it makes sense to you how far can he go with his freedom of speech at least i think moses courier should not misuse the power that he's enjoying now since he's the cabinet minister i think it should be they say the power the freedoms that he enjoying is the freedom of is the same freedom that all canyons are enjoying of freedom of communication but he should limit these words that is portrayed with him with the office that he occupy okay so he has the freedom but he needs to know where to to limit yeah his words and i think that's agreeing basically to the statement so its freedom ends where the other begins so he needs to know his limits basically as we all do okay amazing so now there's this other thing but i also want us to highlight uh there's the word media and then now the new taxes what should our canyons expect if everything goes through if you know it's not stopped in court what should canyons expect from july 1st i think july 1st i think new media people had some interview with mr president and mr president promised some good news to canyons if the financial bill 2023 pass through our national assembly and he said first okay so that is one of them but we've seen the president come coming and giving promises to canyons and canyons are very quick to go back to those videos and show them you said this but you haven't really responded to it so how sure are we that the president is going to actually keep to his words to his promises and the other day uh we we saw it was it yesterday we saw the prime cabinet secretary musale moudavadi coming on to say that six months won't be enough we need two years so and canyons some of the canyons commented on it and saying at least now we are having some truth you know that makes sense other than the the promises that have been given so far you know short term or you know that's you know the president gave them as if they are going to be achieved on short term but they haven't been achieved so are we seeing uh another story where we also we're also likely to be told to wait longer i think uh concerning for example housing housing you can it's not a short term thing it's a long term thing and that's why mr president is probably been promising uh on uh on gas cylinders i think i think something that it can happen since i think mr president launched uh a gas company in mombasa reward the other day and i think it's it's some it sounds it can happen if this financial bill go through and if mr president sends it into into use okay yeah so you believe that we're going to have everything yeah i believe all right so that's how finally um on this issue that is going to happen today at the senate so the senate is going to have a special sitting today regarding the impeachment of the deputy governor of ciara county um what do you make of it oh the yeah that's the deputy governor of ciara county william odwell who was impeached by ciara county assembly after 42 members of the county assembly unanimously adopted the report of the special committee to impeach him so what what do you what do you think there is likely to happen today judging from previous sittings that the senate has had to sit on matters of impeachment concerning our i saw the issue of impeachment motion of the deputy governor of ciara i think somehow if those issues that were presented concerning for example i think it was trending mostly in our social media it was costing a one million kenyan shilling and somehow if it's real that it was purchased with one million shilling i think senate will do a favor to kenyans and mostly people most likely ciara people because i think that's just a form of corruption that's obvious because no one can purchase a seat of one million of which even if it's a one million seat i think the one that we saw on our screens or it was being showcased in in senate i think it doesn't match a one million seat here okay and i think for me i support that senate to do a favor to kenyans and and impeach impeach the deputy governor but we have not seen this happening is it something that is likely to happen as much as you're saying that because the previous case with um governor kawaira mongaza it was people you know it was highly likely that she was going to be uh the senate was going to allow the impeachment but it didn't happen we don't have many cases where the senate has approved an impeachment and i'm not i'm not talking you know uh trying to preempt what is going to happen but do you think that it's something that's most likely going to happen that they're going to approve it so i think i think you are wrong first senators approve some impeachment motions like one uh mike movie song when he was in europe i think he went through the same and he was impeached okay yeah so you okay you're countering that saying that they have actually had approved impeachment so i think i think they should do the same to seahia deputy governor because it's portray some form of corruption because of purchasing a one million seat doesn't make sense all right doesn't make sense for you what about seah county they're also in the story they're saying that the deputy governor has spoiled sort of spoiled the name for the governor himself and some of the mcs do you do you agree with this i think it's a that so i think for deputy governor he hasn't spoiled the name of the governor or the fellow mcs because it's entitled to his office his budget and everything okay yeah all right um i wanted to conclude there but i want you to also touch on the counties a little bit um this is the front page 250 million city bus park to be flattened um governor sakaja says plan to use facility as heavy vehicle holding ground has failed so this is a project by nms and uh 250 million that's a lot of money for it to be flattened it'll mean the taxpayers money has just gone on a loss just like that what do you what do you think of it is it a good move my opinion is that firstly it's not a good move since we are going to waste a lot of money that's around 250 million secondly we have not uh take measures to ensure that the same infrastructure being used by the purpose that was meant because we have not seen the county officials instructing the matatos and vehicles from the west western kenya to use the interstation for i think it was considered to be a stage for they've actually um okay so basically um let me explain what it was for sakaja said that despite the former regime having an ambitious plan to make the center a holding ground for long distance vehicles as you've said um the plans have failed and the land ought to be used for another purpose and the purpose that he wants it to be used for is to have a world class conference center there and he says he has already investors who have expressed interest to have the place converted yeah into the world class conference center so is that a better use for for this place where the nms had as a holding ground for the long distance vehicles to world class conference center i think world class conference center i think at first we have kcc and secondly if we are going to destroy it we are destroying 250 million secondly we have after construction there was no measures that was put on place yeah to ensure that a long distance vehicle from western kenya occupy the place after their journey so my advice to the governor and the count officials firstly to try out if it can work out yeah so it can still work out we he needs to look into it better and more pressure and to have you know probably a committee that can try and help him see how to strategize and really implement it yeah both the same uh okay all right what about the other counties we are really seeing a lot of narobi county and the governor's coming on to speak on different things and different projects i always think the same with other counties is the county government really doing i think working really i think the devolution is working because yesterday mr president confirmed to the country and the counties that we already paid all the money that was being needed by the county governments yeah so i think now all these projects that being implemented by the sakaja administration i think is working because i think narobi was mentioned be the one of the counties that receiving majority of the man okay speaking still on the governor of narobi there's this project that he he implemented or he talked about last week about giving free lunch to public primary schools yeah yeah what do you think of that is that a good move i think it's a good move because i think it was being launched by mr president yeah and i think it's a good move because not majority genius are receiving the majority of the our student our people's going to the early childhood education are receiving a food that is required maybe a palace meal i think it's a good progress because not majority of our parents are giving these people the same okay there's this particular story it's still on matters how county government is operating um it was actually on twitter not news and i'm trying to get it i'm not sure if i'll get it maybe i will it was a church that was being launched what county was it i am forgetting um let me get it just in a few but basically what was happening is that a governor was supporting a church to be launched um and he was asking what about supporting some of the development projects like being supported you know the you know the building of the church like that it's actually here i've got in it um so it was kip chumba more common and he tweeted we are currently in kapsua for the official opening and dedication of a i c kapsua township church sanctuary so uh vloga wrote it looks amazing commented but he was wondering why are we unable to deploy the same social capital for development projects if a rural hamlets can do this why don't why do we need capacity building for ecd's and dispensaries do you think that i think this can be channeled to ecd's such you know such efforts can also be channeled to why they really matter not that the chart doesn't but you know dispensaries these are necessities do you do you think do you share the same opinion or a different sentiment i think first ecd's are being funded by or being constructed by the county governments and i think those are being those are money that comes from the tax payers man constructing a church it's it was a fundraise and i think to say what do i call them well wish us came with a parcel of money from their pockets yeah so uh can we deploy the same thing you know people just coming together if it's not working with the government can people come together social capital raise that capital and improve on some amenities like hospitals dispensaries hospital do you think it's necessary it's not necessary but if it's important it can work it can work but it's actually a mandate of the county to do it all right what do you have to say as we come to a close on this regarding politics and everything that we have discussed firstly what i can say is that um as a country somehow we are being seen outside Kenya like um we are somehow our politics is majoring because after the election starts was 2022 august elections we had a peaceful transition and the country ran through after six months that we are being told by the opposition that open servers and what and what something that look weird secondly i think concerning affairs to do with youth politics i think youth should be also bring with the negotiation table so that they can discuss their issues and how it's affect them because we are in doing campaigns you are being informed majority of stories so after the elections we are being told that in our graduation like the other day on friday we had our deputy president attending a you know a graduation ceremony in jacoat and he was holding a graduate of medicine and engineers and what and what that yeah so i was wondering how does medicine student yeah it doesn't relate yeah and also i think concerning youth affairs what i can say is that mr president should consider giving a position like cabinet secretary youth affairs to be a youth not someone who is not a category of 18 to the five because if you weigh about what is not in that category of 18 to 35 you know nothing about youths yeah okay yes so we you're saying we need a youth on that in that position yeah you think a youth will be able to handle that role will be able to take on that sort of you know um whatever is required i think what does it mean by a youth affairs things that's concerning with a youth because you cannot pick someone from nowhere and you tell uh who is not a youth doesn't know nothing about the welfare of the youths doesn't know youths around their affairs and you tell them control the youths it doesn't make sense you can't work out you must have someone that knows how the language of youth that's being used commonly who is concerned with what the youths like mostly yeah okay what do you think you you mentioned the deputy president and what he said about kazem jango he also said that he's also there are no employment in kenya me one and godja cc two apart to tough to tough days are employment what is your position in that how can we create employment for ourselves if that is the state that we're in as youths i think firstly the deputy president was supposed to be telling kenyans during campaigns that there is no employment then telling the youth that after our win there's no employment yeah it doesn't it somehow it looks like our politics also is full of lies and propagandas yeah so we just tell the truth how it is then saying a lot of stories during campaigns and after you have been elected into office you change okay and what's your position in on that if that's the current state we're in if the deputy president says we don't have work and we're the ones to create that employment for ourselves then how how do you suggest we as youths step up on that concerning the same i think the youths what i do but what what i think for example a student like who is doing for example law she will join these law firms yeah for example student doing medicine and so however she'll form at least if you have a little fund you can form your clinic and you start your you run your own business for the time being yeah okay so it's two g two male youths we need to two g two more out of that yeah all right uh ken what can people get you on your socials if they want to interact with you they come around co-hopper social media on facebook you look at me at when i look at ken kohedge twitter you look at me at kohedge ken senior instagram i'm not instagram yeah i think those are only some platforms i mean you've you've mentioned on rubble and i've just remembered a piece in this paper where uh a governor who has not been who has refused to be mentioned is actually suing a newspaper for calling him on rubble multiple times it's actually very funny because he you know the the the title um demands that you carded with some sort of respect or decorum whatever you say and everything but that's not how he sees himself so he's suing the newspaper for it very very funny sentiments to have any way thank you for joining us that has been our honorable co-ech ken as you said he's the secretary general of z-tech university of kenya we've been talking politics youth and politics i hope you have taken something from it enjoyed it or something brand saka will be coming up next with a very interesting conversation on mcm you definitely want to be a part of that the hashtag to use is one in the morning at y254 channel my personal handle is at deafening i get i will take a short break we'll be right back