Posted by Monday, July 29, 2024 at 07:40 |
Gen Z attends the Shujaaz tribute concert. Photo/@QuraishHabasho/X
The past five weeks of Gen Z protests offer an important lesson in what can be achieved when people come together and are determined. In a short space of time, these courageous Kenyans have done what no member of parliament could: they have sent home ministers with troubled histories and questionable integrity.
This generation, with the help of previous generations that openly or covertly supported their civil dissent,
It is impossible not to stand up and mobilize sovereign people to say no to bad leadership. They did this by raising a consciousness never seen before — a consciousness that allows us all to think now and act in our own interest, even if it means turning against the establishment.
Today, without the never-give-up attitude of Gen Z, we would be in the thrall of a punitive tax system, suffocated by the extravagance of our leaders. As one young person puts it, we would be living like a war-torn southern hemisphere country, paying taxes like Singapore, while our leaders amassed wealth and easily slid into billionaire status overnight.
Interestingly, even in the midst of these uncharted territories, politicians have been rolling out the same script, the same plot, and of course the same actors and protagonists. Though it is yet to be unfolded, the past harkens back to an unpleasant tradition of politicians rallying together for self-preservation. The script may be the same, the actors and protagonists may be the usual “good politicians”, but perhaps it is time to remind politicians that they are ready to put on a show for a totally different audience. So far, the measures taken have not been out of this world. With a new consciousness, it is safe to point out that the protests will probably continue, because this is not the kind of audience that will just sit back and applaud a run-of-the-mill stage play.
Yes, there is a lot going on behind the scenes, and a few politicians have spoken of brutal political maneuvering, with hints here and there, but when politicians who have sworn never to cooperate conveniently defect and reconcile, it is almost always for their own good, rather than the good of the people. But this is an uncharted road marked by a restless generation that prides itself on having the time to take to the streets and shut down governments and corporations.
On the other hand, we have a political class that has been mobilized with a tradition of a fairly strong tendency to build up a war chest for the next election. These two realities put politicians in a very precarious situation, but it is to the people’s advantage. As a people, we are in a win-win situation, and the political class has only two options, both of which are to our advantage.
Firstly, pressure from Gen Z and their willingness to take to the streets citing Articles 1 and 37 of the Constitution means politicians will be straining to deliver results. Gone are the days of flaunting luxury, and our leaders will have no choice but to work their magic if they are to survive the breath of consciousness brought about by Gen Z.
Some cried hoarsely as their key appointments seemed to slip away in the midst of a behind-the-scenes power struggle. They will soon find themselves in grave trouble.
Accountability standards have been lowered and expectations have been raised. If this broad-based government addresses the debt crisis, accountability, corruption, the high cost of living, and waste, and saves enough to invest in creating jobs for our youth, no one will begrudge the politicians.
But our victory as Kenyans will be even greater if the new government continues the age-old tradition of making deals and plundering public resources to win the next election.
Its size is because it offers the best chance of clearing out a sizable group of politicians from our political system. This duality of favorable odds suggests that perhaps Gen Z’s exuberance and never-give-up attitude should not be celebrated, but rather leveraged strategically.
—The author is a PhD student in political communication.
