Nepal's example demonstrates the consequences of corruption serving as the bedrock of administration
In the heart of Nepal, a wave of change swept through the political landscape as thousands of young citizens stormed Parliament, setting it ablaze and forcing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign. This historic event, which took place on September 9, 2021, serves as a stark reminder for Kenya's political class. The choice before them is clear: either sell fear and repeat tired warnings, or confront the reality that the system is broken.
The Nepal protests were a culmination of years of growing anger and frustration over issues such as corruption, widened inequality, and the sense that the ruling elite was hoarding wealth while the majority sank deeper into poverty. The scenes in Nepal were reminiscent of similar events in Kenya last year, where youth stormed Parliament and set part of it ablaze.
In Kenya, the youth are experiencing the fading of university dreams due to a broken funding model. For many Kenyans, especially the youth, Parliament has long ceased to be a people's house and has become a marketplace where MPs auction their loyalty, pass punitive laws, and rubber-stamp executive excesses.
The anger and frustration among Kenyan Gen Z youth mirror those of their Nepali counterparts, as they watch politicians amass wealth while ordinary families struggle. This has led to a growing disillusionment among the youth, with many no longer believing in promises of reform. They believe the system is too rigged to ever produce leaders who care about ordinary people.
Robert Wanjala, an investigative journalist, can be contacted at [email protected] for more insights into this issue. He highlights that the Kenyan youth struggled to sustain their revolutionary movement compared to their Nepali counterparts, due to differences in political structures, social cohesion, and the ability to mobilize broad-based support necessary to force real change.
The Nepal protests demonstrate the consequences of ignoring the youth for too long and allowing greed and corruption to grow unchecked. If leaders do not start listening, open real space for youth participation, dismantle exclusion, and fight corruption, Kenya may face a similar eruption.
Others, however, see the Nepal protests as a beacon of hope. They argue that it proves that it is possible to bring a bad government to its knees if citizens are united and determined. The young people on social media are calling out the fear-mongering tactics of leaders, saying it is a way for them to scare citizens so that they continue to cling onto power while silencing demands for justice.
In the face of these protests, the Kenyan political class is reacting by warning about the consequences of failed states and repeating the same fear that has been sold to citizens for decades. However, some argue that these warnings are mere attempts to distract from the real issues at hand.
The trigger for the Nepal protests was the government's sudden decision to ban social media platforms. This move was met with widespread outrage, leading to the protests that ultimately forced the Prime Minister's resignation. In Kenya, similar issues have arisen, with patients dying in hospitals due to a health scheme under SHA not working properly.
In conclusion, the Nepal protests serve as a warning to Kenya's political class. If they do not address the issues of corruption, inequality, and youth disillusionment, they may face a similar eruption. The youth are no longer willing to wait patiently and accept suffering as a way of life in silence. They are demanding change, and it is up to the political class to listen and act.
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