“Chapa Mikwaju”: President Samia Suluhu Advises Ruto on How to Deal with Gen Zs

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has called for a unified and firm approach to dealing with youthful protesters in East Africa.

Speaking at the Tanzania-Kenya Business Forum, she urged her Kenyan counterpart, President William Ruto, to use discipline to maintain order.

President Suluhu emphasised that Kenya and Tanzania should not be divided by internal unrest. She stated that neither country should celebrate the "evils" happening in the other.

Instead, she called for a shared commitment to removing these challenges whenever they arise.

A Call for Firm Discipline

The President revealed details of a private discussion held with President Ruto earlier that day. The conversation focused on how to handle the younger generation, whom she described as disrespectful children.

These youths, often referred to as Gen Z, have been active in demanding democratic changes across the region.

President Suluhu accused these groups of using the guise of democracy to cause chaos. She noted that they "disturb" their governments and engage in burning property. Her advice to President Ruto was direct and uncompromising.

"If they come to me, I cane them (nachapa mikwaju); if they come to you, cane them (chapa mikwaju) so they straighten up,” President Samia Suluhu Hassan told President Ruto.

Protecting Local Traditions

The Tanzanian leader argued that the goal is to create a community of people who are "straight" and "respectful". She warned that Western-style democracy should not be allowed to ruin the traditions and customs of East African nations.

"Democracy has no formula," Suluhu remarked. She explained that the democracy practiced in distant lands is different from what fits the local context.She urged President Ruto to "stand firm" to protect their respective countries and uphold local values.

These remarks come in the wake of historic protests in Kenya that began in June 2024. Led largely by Gen Z activists, the demonstrations were initially sparked by the Finance Bill 2024, which proposed a series of new taxes. The movement, which used social media to organise, eventually led to the storming of the Kenyan Parliament.

According to reports from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), the death toll from the protests rose to over 50 people, with hundreds of others injured. The unrest forced President Ruto to withdraw the Finance Bill and dismiss almost his entire cabinet in an attempt to appease the public.

Regional Stability

President Suluhu concluded that it is essential for leaders to "stand on the same foot" to protect their nations. She insisted that the youth must not be allowed to use the banner of democracy to "spoil" the peace and order of the region.