The civic space in East Africa is shrinking, with freedoms under strain, and those who defend them increasingly at great personal risk. Yet amid the shadows, resilience persists, and with it, a renewed call for solidarity, accountability, and collaboration to protect the right to speak, organise and hope for a better tomorrow. The Gen Z-led protests in June 2024 over governance, corruption, and economic frustration reshaped public discourse. Young Kenyans, armed with smartphones and hashtags demanded accountability – and paid a heavy price. Dozens of activists were arrested, some disappeared, and others lost their lives. This decentralised movement reignited a conversation that extends beyond Kenya’s borders. It…