Understanding the Youth Uprising in Kenya

Kenya has historically grappled with injustices rooted in colonialism, and since gaining independence in 1963, it has faced the emergence of numerous social fractures linked to neocolonialism. These include high unemployment rates, widespread corruption, and limited access to human rights, which have been detrimental to the people of Kenya, most notably the young people who remain marginalised and underrepresented in positions of power and decision-making. This is despite the fact that, according to the Kenyan National Council for Population and Development, over 80% of Kenya's population is under the age of 35.

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In this context, with high spirits and great hope, Kenyans cast their votes in the most recent electoral cycle (9 August, 2022).They hoped to elect leaders and a government whose manifesto promised to meet their interests and accelerate the nation's development while eliminating long-standing struggles since independence. To their dismay, two years later, the socio-political situation has deteriorated. The government has become unresponsive, absent, and non-performing, essentially, a dictatorial regime more committed to making citizens' lives harder while a privileged minority and the ruling class revel in ill-acquired wealth.

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The government's introduction of new taxes on basic commodities and services, coupled with its failure to account for public funds and resources, sparked nationwide protests led by Gen Z. Members of parliament, who are constitutionally mandated to represent the people, ignored their constituents' voices. Instead, they followed orders from the state house, passing the punitive and contentious Finance Bill 2024. Kenya's 2024 Finance Bill introduced proposed modifications to the nation's taxation framework, putting forward various tax hikes. Essentially, this bill invited government policies that disproportionately affected young people through tax hikes that made basic necessities increasingly unaffordable. It meant education would no longer be affordable for all citizens, only for the wealthy, who wouldn’t feel the burden of rising prices on essentials such as sanitary towels, bread, flour, and cooking oil. 

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The Kenyan youth uprising emerged from this context, fueled by a generation that grew up amidst the failures of previous political promises, the harsh realities of financial exclusion, and strict budget cuts. A survey by the Human Development Index recently revealed that Kenya has crossed a threshold and is now considered the worst country for young people to live in during the 21st century. The reasons include rampant corruption, bad governance, misappropriation of public funds, lack of state accountability, disrespect for the judicial system and the constitution, high costs of living, rising costs of government services, and a high rate of youth unemployment.

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In an effort to bring about change in governance, Kenyan youth organised peaceful nationwide demonstrations, unified in demanding their constitutional rights. Their goal was not to overthrow the government but to call for the reconstitution of the presidency, dissolving the cabinet to allow fresh leaders to enter the system, and ensuring youth representation in decision-making positions. Protesters demanded the removal of corrupt officials, the elimination of unconstitutional policies, and transparent investigation on budget corruption within government.

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This uprising began with the mobilisation of social media, led by youth, as a tool for the mass dissemination of information and calls to action under the banner of #RejectFinanceBill2024. It then evolved into the physical mobilisation of 1000s of people engaging in protests and demonstrations demanding the rejection of the 2024 Finance Bill and shifts in governance structures in service of all, challenging the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the ruling elite and corporations. Without a central figurehead, the movement operated horizontally, with multiple organisers across the country. 

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This approach actively prevented local governments from easily co-opting or dismantling the movement; however, the state did respond to protests with violence, deploying riot police to disperse crowds with tear gas, rubber bullets, and, in some cases, live ammunition. The government responded similarly to the historical 1982 coup, by deploying police and military forces for internal operations against protesters. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights published its fourth report on their website two weeks into the protests, confirming how peaceful demonstrations turned violent, leading to fatalities, abductions, and arbitrary arrests. The report documented over 60 lives lost, over 10,000 injured, 32 enforced abductions, and over 600 arrests of peaceful demonstrators.

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In fear of abductions and further loss of life, the Gen Z movement skillfully turned to social media to continue pressing their demands, describing themselves as bold, fearless, faceless, tribeless, leaderless, and united by the desire for a prosperous Kenya that upholds the rule of law. Additionally, the movement's demands have expanded, calling for justice for the lives lost and the release of those arrested. 

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Their persistence ultimately forced the president to accept and meet the people in an online space—X, formerly Twitter—where the revolution began. Using this platform to organise and communicate, the Gen Z movement made it difficult for the government and other opposing forces to sabotage their efforts. The movement previously rejected calls for a national structured dialogue with the government, insisting that they wanted action on their demands, not discussions that could result in empty political promises. Their concern was the risk of being identified and later punished by an oppressive regime, but they felt safer engaging through online platforms like Facebook.

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On the 31st of July, 2024, the rejection of the 2024 Finance Bill was announced. The recent Gen-Z protests in Kenya have led to various outcomes and repercussions, including the rejection of the 2024 Finance Bill, changes in the cabinet secretaries, dissolution of 47 cooperatives, suspension of re-appointments in the civil service, and the abolishment of unconstitutional offices. (Apollo, R., Okal, J., & Makau, J.,  16 August 2024, Youth uprising: How Gen-Z protests could shift Kenya’s power structures. African Cities Research Consortium.) 

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In addition to the main demand of the movement being met, the dissolution of the 2024 Finance Bill, it has also been hugely significant in other aspects. Being youth-led and driven, it has invited a critical conversation on the inclusion of young people in spaces of power, in addition to the necessary shift in power that is needed. This movement forced the government to acknowledge the concerns of young people and address systemic underlying issues they have been continuously facing. 

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The protests also sparked public debates about the future of the country and the role of youth in shaping it, which led to the president appointing 32-year-old Mr. Erick Muriithi Mugaa as the cabinet secretary of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation in his newly appointed cabinet. It is imperative for the government to engage in meaningful dialogue with Gen Z to take concrete steps to address their concerns. By doing so, Kenya can harness the energy and creativity of its young people to build a more prosperous and equitable future for all.

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Concurrent with what has been emerging in Kenya, the world has observed similar uprisings, from the Bangladesh quota reform protests to the #EndBadGovernance and #EndSARS protests in Nigeria, led by young people demanding systemic change rooted in liberation for all. It has been made undeniably clear that young people around the world are tired of perpetual cycles of systemic injustice that often leave those most marginalised on the outskirts of these conversations.

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Young people are demanding change. It is time to listen to them.