Young Kenyans are taking to the streets once more, driven by a despair so deep that many are writing their own eulogies before joining the march. A year after more than 60 fellow protesters lost their lives in anti-government demonstrations, the generation that ignited that fire – Gen Z and millennial Kenyans – finds itself back on the front lines, armed with banners, bandanas, and a grim readiness for the worst.
Their anger is palpable, rooted in the harsh realities of their daily lives: a crippling lack of jobs, soaring cost-of-living, and persistent police brutality. These are the grievances that fuel their resolve, turning their constitutional right to protest into a desperate gamble for a future worth living.
"I didn't care if I died. We have no life as it is. There are no jobs, the cost of living is high, and Kenyans are really struggling," shared Wilson, a jobless 19-year-old from Nairobi. His sentiment, tragically echoed by thousands, underscores the profound sense of hopelessness that drives young Kenyans to extremes. Before masking up and joining protests, many, like Wilson, turned to social media platforms such as TikTok, sharing poignant farewell messages – their own obituaries – in chilling anticipation of police response.
Their fears, tragically, were realized. During the June 25th commemorations of last year's deadly anti-tax protests, authorities reportedly opened fire again, resulting in at least 19 deaths and hundreds more injured. "We knew what was at stake. Over the past year, the government has tried to silence us and we have seen how protesters have been killed," Wilson, withholding his surname for safety, grimly told Context. His TikTok farewell, thanking his parents, encapsulated the profound sense of duty and desperation: he felt he had no choice but to protest, whatever the cost, in pursuit of a better life for all Kenyans.
This popular anger is directed squarely at President William Ruto, who ascended to power in 2022 on a promise to champion low-income "hustlers." Despite cultivating a reputation as a global statesman on the international stage, at home, Ruto is increasingly dubbed 'Zakayo' – a Swahili moniker for a greedy biblical tax collector. This epithet reflects the deep frustration of Kenyans who witness politicians flaunting wealth while their own living standards plummet.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen has vehemently denied allegations of excessive force by the police, instead accusing demonstrators of attempting to overthrow the government. He dismissed the groundswell of discontent as "terrorism disguised as dissent," a narrative that starkly contrasts with the protesters' lived experiences and constitutional rights.
Yet, despite the government's firm stance and the inherent dangers, there is little indication that these protests will subside; more are already scheduled. Last year's demonstrations, primarily led by Gen Z and millennial Kenyans, successfully forced the withdrawal of a controversial finance bill that sought to raise a raft of taxes. However, that victory was followed by a concerted crackdown on dissent, both in person and online, further fueling the current wave of anger. Chants of "Ruto must go" and "End police brutality now" reverberated through Nairobi's streets last week, indicating that for many, little has truly changed.
"Nothing has changed in the last year. It's the same monkeys, different forest," lamented Evans, 30, his face masked against tear gas. "We are struggling and hustling everyday. There is no future for young people in this country," he added, articulating the pervasive despair that pushes a generation to such extreme acts of protest.
While economists note some lessons learned – with the government adopting a more cautious tax stance in this year's finance bill, dropping measures like expanded PAYE tax and levies on mobile phones and solar equipment – these adjustments are seen as mere temporary relief. Jervin Naidoo, a political economist at Oxford Economics Africa, points to the alarming underlying economic pressures. "Unemployment is around 13%, with youth unemployment alarmingly high at 67%. Meanwhile, about 85% of employed Kenyans remain in the informal sector, where incomes are low and irregular," Naidoo highlighted in a recent report. "Public frustration will likely persist without substantial progress in creating jobs, especially for young people, and in improving real incomes."
