UASIN GISHU, Kenya – Youth activist Kasmuel McOure who was part of the proponents of the Gen Z-led anti-government protests between June and July 2024, has finally met with President William Ruto.
Kasmuel met President Ruto at A.I.C Kipkorgot church in Ainabkoi, Uasin Gishu County, where he attended the Sunday service on December 22, 2024.
He was among the leaders who received the President on arrival, generating a heated conversation on social media platforms.
His critics argued that McOure had betrayed those who were killed or injured during the countrywide protests, while his supporters argued that he was being strategic.
State aligned bloggers and politicians quickly shared his photo with the President, urging the youth to be like him.
Among those who supported McOure’s move included Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei, who urged Gen Zs to always be strategic in their quest for a change in the country.
Taking to his official X account on Sunday, December 22, 2024, Cherargei told the Kenyan youth that their mantra of tribeless, leaderless, agendaless and directionless will not work.
https://twitter.com/scherargei/status/1870728315914387563
During the Gen Z protests, he became a beacon of hope for young people across Kenya.
The demonstrations, triggered by widespread dissatisfaction with government policies and corruption, drew tens of thousands to the streets.
Protestors braved teargas, arrests, and even police brutality, demanding accountability and justice.
The protests were not without cost. Human rights organizations documented over 60 deaths, countless arrests, and enforced disappearances linked to the unrest.
McOcure’s leadership in such a charged environment earned him admiration and respect.
Many saw him as a voice for a disenfranchised generation, unafraid to challenge the status quo.
However, McOcure’s recent actions have left many of his supporters disillusioned.
His involvement with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and visible closeness to political heavyweights, including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has sparked accusations of opportunism.
Critics accuse him of abandoning the causes for which he fought, including justice for protestors who lost their lives or remain unaccounted for.
