Kenya's Gen Z protests still echo two years on
Two years after youth-led protests shook Kenya, activists say the issues remain unresolved. As Gen Z marks the anniversary, the decentralized movement continues to shape
Two years after youth-led protests shook Kenya, activists say the issues remain unresolved. As Gen Z marks the anniversary, the decentralized movement continues to shape politics, demand justice, and challenge power. Kenya's anti-riot police were out in full force in the capital, Nairobi, on Thursday, two years after Gen Z protesters breached the grounds of Kenya's parliament during demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024. For many young Kenyans, June 25 is no longer just a protest date; it has become a symbol of resistance against police brutality, economic hardship and what activists see as a growing gap between leaders and citizens. Many young Kenyans say little has fundamentally changed. Youth unemployment, rising cost of living and concerns over governance continue to resonate across the same generation that first mobilized online and poured into the streets. "June 25th is a reminder of what this regime is all about," Faith Njeri, a university student in Nairobi, told DW. "It is a reminder of when you guys lost legitimacy to the people of Kenya… because of just simply saying no to the Finance Bill." Others emphasized the importance of commemoration."Thursday is our greatest day that is about to happen," said youth activist Brian Otieno. "Celebrate the life of the comrades who died… We are coming with flowers. So your government should prepare to give us security." June 25 has become synonymous with the Gen Z protests that led to the withdrawal of Kenya's unpopular 2024 Finance Bill Image: James Wakibia/SOPA Images/ZUMA/picture alliance Digital activism continues to play a crucial role in the Gen Z-led protests. "Kenyans we have decided we are all changing our profile pictures to Rex and the other heroes we lost… Everyone we've lost to police brutality," said Mercy Wanjiru.
"You cannot kill us and lead us." For some, remembrance is also about restoring names that risk being forgotten. "We are in that dark month… Rex Masai, Denzel Omondi, Eric Shieni, David Chege, Erickson Mutisya… and the many who disappeared," businessman Kevin Mwangi, told DW. At least 60 deaths were recorded during the protests, according to the government-mandated Kenya Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). Rex Masai, a 29-year-old activist was the first fatality of the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests. Beyond personalities and political affiliations Unlike earlier protest waves in Kenya, which often revolved around political parties or established civil society actors, the anti-Finance Bill demonstrations were markedly decentralized. Organizing largely unfolded online, through social media platforms and loosely connected local networks. Beatrice Waithera, national leader of the Red Vest Movement, told DW this approach was partly a response to increasing scrutiny of public gatherings. "We had to mobilize ourselves discreetly in ways that [President William] Ruto had to come into one of the spaces on X, formerly Twitter, to try and speak to us," Waithera said. Digital spaces became coordination hubs, linking young people across the entire country. The protests drew students, young professionals, gig workers, and first-time demonstrators—forming one of the most spontaneous youth mobilizations in Kenya's recent history. How Gen Z protests change activism in Kenya To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "That's where the first faction of the Gen Z and youth movement started," she said. Questions about the movement's leadership persist, with some political figures attempting to link the protests to opposition actors or well-known activists.
The BriefWire