You don’t need dialogue to address concerns raised by Gen-Zs, Ugenya MP tells Ruto

By Peter Ochieng

Ugenya Member of Parliament (MP) David Ouma Ochieng has become the latest politician to dismiss calls for national dialogue, in the wake of several governance issues raised by Kenyan youth, popularly known as millennials and Gen-Zs.

Instead of dialogue as proposed by Azimio leader Raila Odinga this week, Ochieng wants President William Ruto to take immediate and firm action against the known ills, such as corruption.

The Ugenya MP who doubles up as Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) party leader said the Head of State doesn’t need dialogue to address the runaway corruption, unemployment, tribalism and inequity.

“I want to remind the President that this is not the time for dialogue, neither is it time for cheap talk. The D in NADCO (National Dialogue Committee) stood for dialogue. It is time for action,” said the legislature, speaking in Migori County on Friday.

MDG is an affiliate of President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance. He applauded the Head of State for dissolving his cabinet, urging him to consider regional balance and competence when he settles down to appoint new ministers.

“To build a cohesive nation, the President must pick the best minds and he should ensure no single community gets more than one slot in the next cabinet,” said the lawmaker.

“The President has been presented with the best opportunity to reshape and refocus the country’s faltering economic and political fortunes,” he added, proposing that no single community gets more than one slot in the next cabinet.

Ochieng was among few Kenya Kwanza MPs who openly declared his stance against the now withdrawn Finance Bill, 2024, which took youth to the streets for protests, culminating in ‘Occupy Parliament’ on 25th June, 2024.

He called for immediate and unconditional release of all protesters still holed up in police custody, having been arrested or abducted during the three-week demonstrations.

The MP has in the past few months been traversing various counties, leading membership recruitment drives ahead of the 2027 general elections.