How the Kenyan Gen Z protests ushered in a new way of demanding accountability and transparency

How the Kenyan Gen Z protests ushered in a new way of demanding accountability and transparency

By Esther Musembi, via bird story agency A pink-coloured water canon is aimed at the protestors who are shouting ‘haki yetu, haki yetu’ (our right! our right!). Quickly dispersed by the high-pressure water and teargas, one group starts to sing the Kenya National anthem waving small Kenyan flags. The images are soon trending across most social media platforms and before the day is out, make headlines […]

July 25, 2024 37

Africa

Kenya protests show citizens don’t trust government with their tax money: can Ruto make a meaningful new deal?

By Eric Magale, University of Pretoria and Mario Schmidt, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Each year, the Kenyan government tables a finance bill outlining measures for funding the national budget. In the past, these bills have scarcely attracted public attention. This changed dramatically in 2023, with President William Ruto’s first budget following his election victory the year before. Ruto inherited an economy battling […]

July 17, 2024 54

Africa

Kenya’s protests are different this time: 3 things that make it harder for government to crush them

By Awino Okech, SOAS, University of London On 25 June 2024, a youth-led protest primarily composed of Gen Zs, as they are popularly referred to, stormed Kenya’s parliament. Legislators voted to pass the Finance Bill 2024 in its third and last reading ahead of presidential assent. This was the second countrywide protest over the proposed taxes in the draft law and excesses in government […]

July 8, 2024 19