June 2024 will always be remembered as the time when Kenya’s Gen Z traded their reputation for political apathy for one of tech-savvy activism, giving the government a run for its money. What began as a digital grumble against the controversial Finance Bill 2024 less than a week ago has exploded into a full-blown, smartphone-powered revolution that’s rewriting the rules of protest in a nation hungry for change.
It all started with a TikTok tantrum. Young Kenyans, fed up with what they saw as punitive tax proposals, took to the video-sharing platform to voice their frustrations. Little did the government know that these seemingly harmless dance routines and lip-syncing videos would morph into a nationwide movement that would bring Nairobi’s bustling Central Business District to a standstill.
As the online discontent spread like wildfire across social media platforms, Kenya’s youth proved they were more than just keyboard warriors. They deployed an arsenal of high-tech tactics that would make even Silicon Valley proud. AI-generated protest songs went viral, custom GPT models were created to explain the nitty-gritty of the finance bill, and hashtags like #OccupyParliament and #RejectFinanceBill2024 trended faster than the government could say “tumetenga.”
However, the crowning moment of the growing protests was a crowdsourced list of MPs’ phone numbers that turned legislators’ smartphones into non-stop buzzing devices. In fact, one unfortunate MP reported receiving over 30,000 text messages from irate constituents.
Protests Move from Phones to Streets
When the day of reckoning arrived, hundreds of trainer-wearing, smartphone-wielding protesters hit the streets of Nairobi. Unlike the protests of the past, there were no stone-throwing hooligans or chaos-loving mobs. Instead, the city witnessed a sea of black-clad, social media-savvy Gen Z armed with nothing more than placards, determination, and an uncanny ability to live-stream even while dodging tear gas.
The protest was a masterclass in decentralized organization. With no clear leadership to target, the authorities were left scratching their heads. Unfortunately, the police engaged protestors with excessive force and brutality to bring what they perceived as “order” to a peaceful demonstration. Canisters of tear gas were lobbed and shot into crowds in an attempt to dissuade protesters from marching on, but all efforts seemed to galvanize the democratic Kenyans even more.
Trucks fitted with water cannons were quickly deployed as a crowd-control weapon to push back the masses. With little regard for human life, the police turned the water cannons onto the crowd, dousing the energetic Gen Z with streams of high-pressure water. Water in some of these trucks had been infused with a colored dye that is used to tag protestors with the purpose of making arrests once the protests subside.
Nonetheless, even arrests couldn’t dampen the spirits of the empowered Gen Z dissenters. Detained protesters turned police vehicles and cells into impromptu TikTok studios, posting defiant selfies and encouraging their comrades to keep up the fight. One arrested organizer tweeted from custody, “We have been arrested, but don’t let them get to you; please proceed to parliament.” Talk about commitment to the cause!
The government, caught off guard by this tech-powered uprising, was forced to take notice. By the end of the day, several controversial tax proposals were dropped faster than an influencer’s follower count after a scandal. Still, that was not enough to quell the masses. The goal was never to amend, but rather to reject the entire Finance Bill altogether.
Police Brutality Rears Its Ugly Head (Again!)
Unsurprisingly, this did not sit well with the government of the day, and things suddenly took a dark turn. The movement, which had been characterized by clever memes and viral hashtags, was suddenly confronted with the harsh reality of physical violence.
Rex Kanyike Masai, a 29-year-old unarmed protester, became the first casualty of police brutality after being allegedly shot by a plain-clothes officer. Despite efforts to save him, Rex tragically succumbed to his injuries. The incident sparked outrage on social platforms, with Kenyans mourning him as a martyr under the hashtags #RIPRex and #JusticeForRex. Shortly afterwards, the heart-wrenching news of a second victim streamed in.
21-year-old Evans Kiratu had sadly lost his life after reportedly being hit by a tear gas canister fired by the police. His mother, Ann Wanjiru, spoke of her shattered hopes and dreams for her son, demanding answers from the government. Whether the government will provide these answers is an entirely different story.
The Power of Unity Prevails
But in the face of adversity, the true spirit of Kenya shone through. Local businesses and places of worship, like the Jamia Mosque on Banda Street, opened its doors to shelter protesters under siege. By noon, the mosque’s parking lot had transformed into an aid station, with volunteer medical professionals tending to injured protesters.
Dr. Austin Omondi and Dr. Salim Ishmael spearheaded a remarkable volunteer effort, recruiting doctors and medical professionals to offer their support. As the afternoon wore on, medical volunteers continued to pour in, battling a shortage of supplies caused by the high demand for care.
The online platforms that once buzzed with clever memes now echoed with calls for justice and accountability. In the same spirit, it also became a platform for organizing support and solidarity. Kenyans online were quick to praise the businesses and places of worship that provided shelter and aid to protesters. However, the power of social media cut both ways.
Businesses that turned away protesters faced the ire of online activists, spawning a new #Reject and #Occupy movement aimed at holding these establishments accountable. Even the Holy Family Basilica found itself in the crosshairs for allegedly denying shelter to protesters.
In the chaos, some businesses fell victim to misinformation. Ramco, for instance, was mistakenly accused of supplying water for police water cannons, highlighting the potential dangers of rapid information spread on social media.
Thankfully, Kenyans online were quick to redeem themselves, facilitating an outpouring of support for the victims’ families. By Sunday morning, X users had raised over Ksh 2.2 million for the families of Rex and Evans, surpassing the 2 million target.
Pressure to release protestors also seems to have borne fruit after Crazy Nairobian and Dr. Austin Omondi were freed after being apprehended by authorities.
This digital-to-physical protest clearly marks a radical shift in Kenya’s political landscape. It’s no longer about tribal allegiances or political bigwigs calling the shots. Instead, it’s about issues that affect daily lives, with young Kenyans leading the charge armed with nothing more than smartphones and a shared sense of purpose.
As the dust settles and the tear gas clears, the Kenyan Gen Z have proven that they’re not just good for TikTok dances and Instagram stories. They’ve shown they can shake up the political scene with a potent mix of digital savvy and old-school street protest. The message to all leaders, present and future, is clear: underestimate the power of a tweeting, streaming, hashtagging youth at your own peril.
In the end, it seems that in Kenya, the revolution will not only be televised; it’ll be live-streamed, hashtagged, and possibly even set to an AI-generated soundtrack. Welcome to Protest 2.0!
