The Juggernaut of Gen-z and Millennial Generations

In a dramatic turn of events, that is in fact in character for this new generation, Kenya has found itself at a crossroads, as the contentious finance bill 2024 has been met with rejection through internet campaigns like #RejectFinaceBill2024, and eventual demonstrations on the streets. This development that the government and political leaders initially dismissed as ‘kids being kids’ has inspired a revolution that many well liberate not only Kenya, but other countries in Africa from despot political leaders. This was evident on 20th June, when the 'self-sworn lifelong president’ of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, was quoted misrepresenting the cause saying,” Our neighbors, Kenyans, are picketing in the streets instead of working. The demonstrations are led by a bunch of tik tokers and members of the lgbtq community. Do tik tokers even pay tax?” Well, these tik tokers and hash taggers are here to stay, longer than the old and fashioned out Machiavellian leaders and they out tally your sycophants. Unlike their parents, they will ‘pass in between your incompetence ’and call you out, make rib stitching memes, go out later for a meal and drinks, then take an Uber ride home!

The political class is right to be jittery seeing as the disillusioned is over and the young generation has fully immersed itself into the economic affairs of their country, and they have decided not to leave their parents and grandparents behind. Thanks to previous regimes push for free education, an educated and tech savvy generation is translating the controversial finance bill into videos in native languages to create political awareness in the villages where the political class muddy their leather shoes and Kaunda suits when election years roll close where they splash a few thousands, false hopes and unfiltered lies, in no specific order to their parents. The young have embrace a policy of no man left behind. This tact has brought Kenyans together beyond age, race, ethnicity, political affiliation and class, an enlightenment that could never be organized, purely organic!

Even as the young were forced out of the comfort of being keyboard warrior into actual warriors in the streets of Nairobi Kenya, they still recognize their strongest suit, social media. Armed with their smartphones livestreaming and snapping photographs of the protests, the Millennials and Gen Z pushed hashtags and topics on the finance bill on X, Instagram, Tik Tok and other platforms, generating content on the peaceful protests and condemning the use of excessive force by the Kenyan Police. Even in the struggle from the chokehold of teargas and tyrannical taxes, they stayed on brand, leaving room for humor with memes and videos of the protests that gave netizens a much needed mental break after a long emotionally draining day and week. To set the mood, playlists on platforms like Spotify dubbed ‘Maandamano Baddies’ and ‘Za Mapambano’ were created, to, you know, marinate the situation and keep perspective. Never a dull moment yea? Show of discontent by boycotting politicians’ businesses, spamming their comment sections with hashtags and reporting their accounts for misrepresentation has left some leaders shell shook and prone to tantrums. But balance is key for these generations. The show of kindness by offering sodas, bread, avocados and water to the police, and making friendly banter left some policemen torn between duty and cracking a smile. They did not, however, relent with the water cannons and teargas, lest they fail their masters.

The revolution has begun, see you on the streets next week!

To Kenyans like Jacob Juma, Rex Kanyike and others who met force instead of love, for the love of their country, rest, we will take it from here.