The Fight for Economic Freedom that the Gen Z in Kenya has Sparked

Over the past two weeks, the Republic of Kenya has witnessed an uproarious rise in protests and demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024. In the wake of these nationwide displays of discontent, the President of Kenya, Mr. William Ruto, has “withdrawn” the bill.

But still, the ground trembles, the feet of the Generation Z citizens marching up and down the country voicing their pain.

The unprecedented ingress of the protesters inside the Parliament grounds was a heroic and bold move shown in various mainstream media channels globally.

The government could hardly believe it — how could these young iPhone-totting, KFC-gouging, Uber-driven kids surmount such gusto?

However, the majority of those whose frustrations over unmet promises by the government had boiled over belonged to the middle and lower classes.

Residents from the areas where affordable housing projects and increased employment had been promised felt betrayed and forgotten. Gen Z could not procure the promised digital jobs (or any), the middle class was staring down at punitive taxes, the farmers decried the fake fertilizer scandal, and the mama mboga (vegetable seller) faced an uphill task of getting produce at affordable prices… It was like a nightmare scene from a war-torn country in the Middle East.

Except that this was Kenya. Our land. Our voice. Our people.

Amidst cans of acrid teargas and shouts of “Ruto Must Go!”, the youth managed to make their voice heard in the house where the Members of Parliament, whom they voted in with great expectations, sit.

Never had such an event occurred.

This was neither an insurrection nor a coup — it was a display of a generation of Kenyan citizens fed up with their government.

Why would the regime that had risen to stir the populace to go against the “dynasties”, and proposed an economic agenda meant to propel Kenya to higher employment numbers and an affordable cost of living, suddenly take a drastic U-turn?

Why, after two years, was there a lack of concrete development projects in the country (save for the ones by the previous regime which the President gladly commissioned)?

Why would the servile elected representatives begin to flaunt their assets in a manner that was meant to deride their constituents?

There was the issue of a bloated budget that dished out unholy amounts of money to unnecessary government positions while minimizing the need to support more important sectors of the Kenyan economy such as health and education.

The voice from the ground cried out, “PUNDA AMECHOKA!” (The donkey is tired.)

There have been many protests in the country of Kenya.

One only has to go back to the pre-independence days when heroes such as Dedan Kimathi, Mekatilili wa Menza, Muthoni Kirima, and Field Marshal Mwariama showed remarkable courage in attempting to assert Kenyan freedom on Kenyan soil against the white oppressors. And while they lost their lives before their collective dream was achieved, they would be extremely proud of the current Generation Z of the nation.

Other men of valor have also died in pursuit of freedom under the dictatorial regime that succeeded the Founding Father of the nation, Jomo Kenyatta. Personally, when I read their stories it is with awe and amazement. They were forthright and fearless — a fact that earned them assassinations and a place in the history books of Kenya.

It is impressive to note that the current Generation Z are the children of those who grew up under excessive governmental watch and near-indoctrination. So one can surmise that they have taken over the hard-nosed attitude of those who came before their parents.

On the 25th of June 2024, during the peaceful protests organically organized all across Kenya, lives were painfully lost, abductions took place, many were injured and maimed, and parents were unable to sleep through the night without thinking of their dead children at the morgues.

It was indeed a dark day for the soul of the nation.

Darker still was the demeanor of the Head of State during an address later that evening as he appeared to remonstrate with the protesters, famously terming them as “treasonous criminals”. Online, the irate youth poured out their agony vehemently as abductions and killings flowed galore.

Faces of well-known human rights activists who championed the cause were posted all over my timeline; friends and families begging for their loved ones to be released. In the mainstream media, which can never be fully trusted, shocking videos of police officers using live bullets during the protests only served to foment nationwide anger.

And even as the protests continue, and the President’s declaration of the withdrawal of the bill, the present mission is now to oust the ruling government.

The Finance Bill was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and now it is not only the Generation Z citizens out on the streets, but people from all walks of life, generations and race.