Youth in Kenya's Gen Z generation are transforming the political landscape by voicing their opposition to the Tax Bill on various social media platforms.
Kenya is currently witnessing a wave of protests, led predominantly by Gen Z, in response to proposed tax increases under President William Ruto's administration. The demonstrations, which began on 18 June 2024, have grown into a broader movement demanding accountability, reform, and improvement in socio-economic conditions.
The Kenyan Finance Bill 2024, introduced by President Ruto, aims to amend the country's tax system primarily through tax hikes, aiming to generate 346 billion Kenyan shillings. This proposal, coming amid a cost-of-living crisis, has ignited the protests.
The protests commenced peacefully but escalated on 25 June, when demonstrators breached police barricades and stormed the grounds of parliament, setting parts of the building on fire, vandalizing lawmakers' offices, and looting property. Regrettably, at least 20 lives were lost during this day of unrest.
Social media has played a crucial role in organizing these protests. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Facebook Live have been instrumental in spreading information, mobilizing participants, and sustaining the movement's momentum, despite government censorship and repression.
One such participant is Malika, a former accountant, who lost her job and is struggling with the rising cost of living in Nairobi. She represents the millions of Kenyans who are demanding change.
The government responded to the protests by announcing the withdrawal of several contentious provisions from the finance bill on 26 June. However, the protests have continued, reflecting deep dissatisfaction with governance and socio-economic conditions.
The protests have evolved into a call for enhanced governmental accountability, fighting corruption, police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and poor youth economic prospects. The movement's persistence indicates that the initial tax issue is just the tip of the iceberg.
The protests have resulted in some government concessions, including the withdrawal of the finance bill and a cabinet reshuffle by President Ruto. However, fundamental socio-economic and political grievances remain unresolved. The movement's evolving demands suggest that the struggle for change is far from over.
In summary, the youth-led protests in Kenya have shown the power of social media activism in driving change. Although they have faced violent state repression, the movement has forced some government concessions and sparked a broader conversation about justice, governance, and socio-economic conditions in Kenya.
- The controversial tax hikes proposed by President Ruto's administration, as part of the Kenyan Finance Bill 2024, have sparked a wave of protests, demanding reform and socio-economic improvement, and have evolved into a broader movement focusing on areas like governmental accountability, combating corruption, addressing police brutality, and improving youth economic prospects.
- General news coverage and social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Facebook Live, have been pivotal in organizing the protests, spreading information, and sustaining the movement's momentum, while confronting government censorship and repression.
