The Gen Z Movement In Kenya; Is Digital Activism Enough To Bring About Tangible Changes?
Kenya has witnessed weeks of Gen Z-driven protests, the protests begun in mid-June.
Young people took to the streets to protest against the country’s annual budget, popularly known as the ‘finance bill 2024’.
The bill which proposed to tax basic commodities like bread, diapers and sanitary towels, was termed as punitive by a majority of Kenyans.
The government had been raising taxes since getting elected into power in 2022; this has exacerbated the cost of living crisis in Kenya.
The protesters termed their core goals as good governance, war on graft, employment for young people and for the political class to do exactly what it is mandated to do in the constitution.
They were further angered by the government channeling funds to unconstitutional offices like that of the first lady and the arrogant display of opulence by politicians.
Young Kenyans organized themselves on social media, Gen Z led the charge and soon thousands had joined the movement, in June 25th 2024, in an unprecedented event, the protesters stormed the Kenyan parliament building.
Forcing the president to scrap the proposed finance bill and dissolve his entire cabinet.
But by this time the protest had morphed into something else and any little sense of euphoria was quashed by the president’s decision to appoint members from the opposition party into his new cabinet instead of addressing the core issues raised by the protesters.
The protests were no longer just about taxes, the government was accused of responding to the protests with extreme force and silencing key voices of dissent in the movement through abductions and intimidation.
Approximately 60 people lost their lives to police brutality while peacefully exercising their constitutional right to picketing.
Young Kenyans demanded justice for the fallen protesters and for the perpetrators to be brought to book.
All these demands fell on deaf ears as the political class praised the police for a good job, the president even going as far as saying the police did their best under given circumstance
Given the perceived lack of responsiveness from the political elites, the Gen Z is forced to regroup and ask themselves critical questions.
With research indicating that online activism is most effective in realizing short-term goals within a cause.
This form of activism is highly effective at bringing attention to an issue as well as raising funds. Since the Internet is fast-paced, online support is quick to die out so online activism works best for quick, short-term campaigns. This understanding of who online activism is effective for as well as what goals and time period it is most effective for has important consequences for how the Gen Z and other activist groups structure their campaigns. Depending on whom they are trying to engage and what goals they may have, these groups will have to present their mission in different ways.
Especially given that Kenya was home to 13.05 million social media users in January 2024, equating to 23.5 percent of the total population.
18.02 percent in Kenya are on twitter while 29 percent of Kenyans rely on TikTok as their primary source of daily news.
There are growing concerns among many Kenyans on social media as they accuse the local media of pushing a pro-government agenda.
This is a worrying trend given that The Audience Measurement and Industry Trends Report said 77 percent of Kenyans listened to radio as their pastime while according to the GeoPoll’s latest Media Establishment Survey, television remains the most dominant medium in Kenya, with over 50 percent of Kenyan households owning a TV and 80 percent of those watching TV daily.
The Gen Z should focus on how to integrate online activism into the activist process. Particularly on how to transition people who enter a movement or organization through digital activism into partaking in action that requires greater commitment and involvement. In this case it might be useful to incorporate more of the practical aspects of grassroots civic education, self-consistency and how it can be harnessed.
Despite the challenges outlined above, the significance of digital activism in Kenya’s Gen Z protests cannot be understated. Social media has united individuals from diverse backgrounds for a common cause, enabling rapid and efficient dissemination of information and real-time updates. This connectivity has empowered citizens to document police brutality, corruption, and human rights violations, holding those in power accountable.
Digital tools have also facilitated online petitions, crowdfunding campaigns, and virtual town halls, amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard. In sum, digital activism has revolutionized political engagement in Kenya, fostering community solidarity and pressuring the government for greater transparency and accountability.
