Riot control police officers confront protesters during an anti-government protest in Kitengela town, Kajiado county. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]
Over the past month, Gen Z has staged an unexpected rebellion and waged a fierce battle to bravely confront the country’s challenges head-on.
They have never stopped trying to bring the country into order and to some extent, their efforts have had a ripple effect on the governance of the country.
Gen Z describes themselves as faceless and leaderless, but their influence is clear, most importantly having facilitated the withdrawal of the controversial Finance Bill 2024 and the dismissal of the Cabinet.
But they say their victory was derailed last week when President William Ruto appointed some of his cabinet members, reinstating six of those who had been sacked. Kenyan youth are not taking this lightly.
On online platforms, they questioned the Ruto Cabinet’s decision and made it part of the agenda for today’s protest, saying the Ruto Cabinet should have appointed fresh, qualified people.
“If they were planning to put them back in power, why did they fire them?” asked X-user.
Today, they have vowed to return to the streets to express their discontent and have declared Jomo Kenyatta International Airport another protected area under the banner of #OccupyJKIA.
In their weekly posters, Gen Z said their grievances were non-negotiable and vowed to hold peaceful demonstrations across Nairobi, from Githurai, the Central Business District and Uhuru Park to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
“Tuesday is Tuesday… prepare yourself, total shutdown.
“We’re going to close off all the roads and line up accordingly. We’re going to get down the fence and march,” Gen Z said yesterday, ready to go.
They have disputed reports that a huge contract had been awarded to an Indian company to lease JKIA.
Yesterday, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) released a statement advising passengers to arrive at JKIA early to avoid flight delays.
“Due to enhanced security checks and procedures at JKIA, passengers are advised to arrive at the airport early to avoid flight delays. Please contact your respective airline for the latest flight information,” KAA said in a statement.
Activist Wanjiru Gikonyo dismissed calls for a government of national unity but said the president must show leadership.
Stay up to date: Subscribe to our newsletter
“Why would we ask the government to unite the people? It’s not that we don’t have unity, we do have unity. And Gen Z is saying that politicians must stop uniting to plunder our country and keep us in chains. The president should have just presented a plan of action and said, ‘I heard you,'” she said in an interview with a local television station.
She urged Gen Z to consider building strong alliances as the next step as their sphere of activism is being taken over by politicians. Another activist, Kasmuel Makoah, said politicians have crippled the country’s economy since independence, adding that they should not hijack their movement.
“This is a country we are trying to rebuild, so no one should have to turn a blind eye first. Lawmakers have shown they can’t do that, and that’s why we’re in the streets.”
“The scandals we are uncovering should have been uncovered by members of parliament. We are uncovering these for ourselves as active citizens,” Mr McCourt said in a television interview.
Even the president’s latest signal, on Sunday, that he had had enough of the protests, has not weakened their resolve, and Gen Z’s determination continues to provoke mixed reactions from Kenyans.
For example, Kenya’s Kwanza County Councillors, led by Kirga Tuka, met in Nairobi yesterday and deplored that criminals were taking advantage of the protests to commit acts of hooliganism.
Azimio La Umoha’s Chief Legal Adviser, Paul Mwangi, said the people were adapting and leaders needed to understand the changes that were required, adding that Gen Z was just asking for the implementation of the Constitution.
“For politicians, this change is too sudden. It will be confusing for them and they may not be able to adapt,” Mwangi told Spice FM talk show yesterday.
He said that whenever change occurs in the country, first there is a crisis, then there is deliberation, and then the status quo is gradually restored.
Kalonzo Musioka, leader of the Wiper Democratic Movement, said Generation Z had liberated the country.
“No one should talk as if their country is their own, no! No!” he said.
