Something has fundamentally shifted in Kenya. The Gen Z-led protests of 2024 were a political earthquake, revealing a new, unpredictable force in the political landscape.
With the 2027 elections in sight, politicians are in a panicked scramble to win over young voters. It looks more and more like the European powers’ scramble for Africa in the Berlin Conference of 1884. In that meeting, European leaders carved up a continent and established rules for its exploitation, all without a single African representative in the room. This is the same disregard for agency we are witnessing today.
Instead of being seen as a demographic dividend, Kenya’s youth are increasingly viewed as a threat and a ticking time bomb. The political class has a deep-seated fear of an organised, disillusioned youth that could upend the old order. This fear is rooted in a palpable demographic reality. According to the 2019 census, youth (defined as those aged 18-34) make up 36 per cent of Kenya’s population. The lack of meaningful engagement with young people’s challenges has led to a rise in troubling social issues. We’re seeing a direct correlation between this neglect and prevalence of drug abuse, a growing mental health crisis, and exploitation of youth. This exploitation sees young, jobless individuals being used as goons only to be ghosted thereafter.
The traditional political culture was built on loyalty to regional kingpins and power of ethnic mobilisation. But a new generation has emerged, one that is sharp, digitally fluent, and openly refers to itself as tribeless and leaderless.
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Recently, in response to the youth protests, the President stated that the youth were badly brought up. This directly places the blame on parents, highlighting a profound intergenerational disconnect where the youth’s demands are not viewed as legitimate political grievances.
The failure to connect with youth issues stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of this generation’s political consciousness. The political class is trying to frame the narrative. They are attempting to control the story, to make it about a privileged few versus the real youth struggling to make a living. You can see it through tokenism of giving youth plates, trolleys, and boda bodas in the name of “empowerment” programmes.
The biggest insult came on International Youth Day. The Ministry of Youth Affairs held a prayer day for youth. They were offering spiritual solutions to material problems and the harsh lived experiences of the youth. What a disconnect! This lack of meaningful youth engagement and budgeting was also evident at the Devolution Conference, where no county demonstrated a substantial financial commitment to youth affairs. The critical mass of young people will not be fooled by political gimmicks. The Gen Z uprising proved that when a large group of people unite behind a cause, their power can shake the foundation of the political system. Borrowing from sociology, Critical Mass Theory explains how a social movement can suddenly take off. It’s not a slow burn but an explosive shift when enough people join in, causing a rapid, unstoppable change. The politicians’ scramble is a panicked reaction to a force they never saw coming. The scramble for the youth vote is a sign of panic. Politicians are using old tricks against a generation that can see right through them. They are trying to redraw the political map, but this generation is already showing they have the power to tear it.
The real question is no longer who will win the youth vote, but whether the political system can survive the unstoppable force of a generation demanding change. The same streets that were filled with peaceful protest must now lead to the polling stations, because if the voice of the streets is to become the law of the land, it must be sealed with the power of the vote.
–Writer comments on topical issues
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By Wanja Maina