Those children who died while protesting were not criminals - Onyonka

During a yesterday’s parliamentary session, Kisii County Senator raised a series of poignant questions and statements that shed light on critical issues facing Kenya. The senator emphasized the importance of prioritizing the well-being of the country's children over material possessions.
In one of the senator's statements, he questioned the societal values that prioritize driving a luxurious car over providing essential medicine for children in need. This sentiment highlights the need for a shift in priorities towards ensuring the health and welfare of the most vulnerable members of society.

“When did we decide that I must drive a car which is 4.88cc that a 3000cc is not good enough while our children don’t have medicine? When we buy fertilizer we deal on it then sell sand?”Onyonka also expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in the management of national resources and entities like Kenya power and national parks, calling for accountability and an end to the alleged misappropriation of funds by the elite and political class.

“Why we are not told who runs our national parks but we hear money is being stolen by the elite and the political class?” asked the senator.
Following the ongoing Movement by generation Z in fighting for their rights, the senator highlighted the emerging power and influence of the younger generation, particularly Gen Z, who are characterized by their non-partisan and non-tribal identities.

This shift in the political landscape underscores the need for a more inclusive and equitable society that transcends traditional divides.

“Let’s forget that we can run this country as tribes. Let’s accept that there’s a new sheriff in town. The Gen Z. They are partyless, tribeless, they don’t have money. They only have bundles and a phone.” Added Mr.Onyonka.
In a poignant plea to the president, the Kisii senator advocated for the release of children in prison and called for honoring those who have lost their lives in protests saying that these individuals were not criminals but young people who had reached a desperate situation, highlighting the need for compassion and justice in the country.

“I would like to ask the president. The children who are in the prison should be released. Those children who died while protesting were not criminals. They should get a state funeral. Those were not criminals, they were kids who had reached a dead end” he urged.

He went ahead in questioning the disparity between the meager salary of police officers and the challenging conditions they face in their daily lives.

This call for empathy towards law enforcement officers underscores the need for fair treatment and support for those who uphold public safety.

“We keep blaming the police. Have we ever gone as a senate and see where the police lives? How he takes his kids to school and his salary is Ksh 19,000?” he asked.