Arise Media 
BY RITA MUTHONI
In the wake of the nationwide protests led by Gen Z, the Embu County Assembly Deputy Speaker, Ibrahim Swaleh, has urged local politicians to prioritize their constituents’ needs.
The Finance Bill 2024, despite widespread opposition from many Kenyans, was voted yes by some MPs, sparking demonstrations across the country. Young people took to the streets to demand better governance and express their loss of trust in elected officials.
During a recent field visit to his ward, Swaleh emphasized the importance of community engagement for understanding and addressing the public’s needs effectively.
He called on MPs to genuinely represent their constituents’ desires in Parliament, lamenting the failure of some MPs to reflect the will of the people, which led to unrest and the destruction of key government buildings.
“It was sad to witness women representatives among other members of parliament countrywide voting yes for the bill that targeted taxing of sanitary pads to pass,” Swaleh said.
According to damage reports read by the County Commissioner, the destruction in Embu County included the Governor’s office, which was set ablaze, resulting in property damage estimated at Sh150 million.
Additionally, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) office was vandalized, incurring losses estimated at Sh20 million.
Swaleh condemned the destruction of county offices and urged the youth to protest peacefully.
He also reminded Embu County leaders to recall and fulfill the promises they made to the people before the elections, stressing the need for accountability and transparency.
“Leaders should be accountable and show their people what they have done since they got into those offices,” Swaleh stated.
The Deputy Speaker’s plea highlights the critical need for politicians to bridge the gap between governance and the electorate’s expectations to prevent further dissatisfaction and unrest.
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