On June 18, 2024, huge demonstrations broke out in Kenya over the contested Finance Bill 2024. These protests initially intended to compel legislators to reject the bill, which featured provisions that would financially burden Kenyans. Unlike the previous protests against the Finance Bill 2023, this one had several distinguishing characteristics. Primarily, the country’s Gen Z youth spearheaded these demonstrations. Furthermore, contrary to last year’s protests, which opposition leader Raila Odinga organized, these gatherings were not linked with any specific political movement or party. More importantly, the protests were organized exclusively through social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). This leaderless, tribeless digital activism has sparked a unique movement in Africa, reminiscent of Egypt’s 2011 and 2019 uprisings.
This essay intends to demonstrate the crucial role of technology in shaping a country’s politics and governance and debunk the myth that internet activism is ineffectual. Consequently, the study summarizes recent events, explains how Gen Z, the most digitally literate generation, leveraged technology to advocate for change, and addresses the challenges and violations of rights raised by the digital movement.
Setting the stage: economic oppression and the call for change
Gen Z protestors outlined several provisions of the bill that they claimed would jeopardize their socioeconomic rights and other fundamental rights. Among the most contentious provisions were the introduction of an eco levy on imported sanitary products and diapers, as well as a tax on cancer treatment, which is already prohibitively expensive for many citizens. Other problematic proposals included a new motor vehicle tax and charges on digital content creators. The youth contended that, while these plans may raise short-term tax revenue, they might have negative long-term repercussions, particularly for key services and flourishing industries. A key factor that aggravated the situation was the perceived failure of legislators to adequately consider the views of the public during the consultation process. By protesting, Gen Z intended to emphasize their status as the sovereign and to remind the state that they had merely delegated their authority and could reclaim it as per the provisions of the Constitution.
The demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024 in Kenya achieved significant milestones. In a series of unprecedented events, the protestors were able to gain access to the parliament building and even took possession of the mace, a symbolic object of parliamentary authority. Ultimately, the President rejected assenting to the bill and sent it back to parliament with a recommendation to delete all the clauses. However, this rejection came at a high cost, as there were reported incidents of police brutality, abductions, and even killings of protestors who had gathered to exercise their constitutional right to peaceful assembly as per Article 37 of the Kenyan Constitution. The President, with subsequent approval from the National Assembly, also deployed the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), a move that was arguably excessive, akin to hitting a mosquito using a hammer. Nonetheless, the court ruled that the deployment was necessary to assist the police in maintaining order.
The aforementioned ruling was followed by an order from the High Court in Malindi temporarily barring the police from using teargas and water cannons against the protestors. However, the use of these crowd control measures continued regardless. As the demonstrations progressed, it became clear that the movement had been sabotaged, with hired goons destroying property, which then justified the extensive use of force to disperse the protestors. Nonetheless, the protest movement remained steadfast in its purpose and has now begun advocating for more radical changes, including the resignation of the government’s top leaders.
Is digital activism a toothless bulldog?
What began as relatively harmless online interactions on social media eventually led to the President engaging in a dialogue with Generation Z on the social media platform X. Kenyans, particularly the youth, have a history of using digital platforms to call out questionable behavior among celebrities and politicians. As the economic situation in the country deteriorated, Generation Z began to express their discontent with the state of the nation, further exacerbated by the display of the lavish lifestyles enjoyed by their political representatives on social media, funded by the hard-earned taxes of the citizens. Factors such as high unemployment rates and failed government services also contributed to this growing sense of unrest. Ultimately, the introduction of the Finance Bill 2024 served as the tipping point that sparked the protests, with the hashtag #rejectfinancebill2024 quickly gaining traction on X, Instagram, and TikTok. Soon after, the group released a schedule of planned activities, including demonstrations dubbed “Occupy” where they would physically occupy the offices of MPs, the Parliament, and even churches and demand accountability from these leaders.
The Gen Z campaign took to social media to educate citizens about the bill and relevant constitutional provisions, including the Bill of Rights. This initiative designed to target a large audience was conducted by translating the bill’s substance into several languages, including Swahili, Kikuyu, and Kamba. In response to police brutality and continued abductions, members applied technology to trace down the last known whereabouts of abducted victims and identify police officers who reportedly killed demonstrators, as well as identify hired thugs disrupting demonstrations. Kenyans also started crowdfunding through social media to help the injured with hospital bills and cover funeral expenses for the deceased. Additionally, several coders developed specialized GPT that could respond to any questions concerning the Finance Bill, detailed President William Ruto’s promises, and documented political leaders’ corruption scandals. The group also used social media spaces to mobilize young professionals, such as doctors who treated the injured and advocates who provided legal assistance to arrested protesters.
The most notable experience, however, was hosting sessions on X Spaces to mobilize crowds, share insights on the challenges facing the country, and deliberate on the way forward. This ultimately led to an exceptional situation where the president had an engagement with the youth on X Spaces, engaging in candid discussions about recent events, the youth’s demands, and potential solutions.
Drawbacks to digital activism
Despite the successes achieved by the digital activism movement, various challenges have emerged. In particular, when the demonstrations had reached their peak and Gen Z intended to occupy the State House, the country experienced a major internet shutdown. KICTANet had already predicted this development and various human rights groups like Amnesty International cautioned against it, as an internet shutdown is a violation of the freedom of expression. Other measures designed to restrict the freedom of expression on social media included the shadow banning of relevant hashtags on X, such as #rejectfinancebill2024, #Occupystatehouse, and #RutoMustGo. Additionally, many members of the public claimed that on the day of the President’s engagement with Generation Z on X, they were unable to access the virtual space.
To demand greater accountability, Kenyans began resharing personal information about political officials as part of a trend dubbed “tuwasalimie” (which translates to “let us greet them”). This trend involved casually sharing phone numbers, and in some cases, information about the leaders’ properties and holdings. Following this, the targeted politicians (especially those who voted yes to the Finance Bill) were bombarded with phone calls and text messages demanding their resignation. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner attempted to intervene with a press release advising Kenyans against such actions, which were interpreted as a violation of the right to privacy under Article 31 of the Kenyan Constitution. However, this warning went unheeded, with some claiming that it was a necessary evil to hold their leaders accountable, given the perceived lack of responsiveness from the political elite. Others maintained that because some politicians had previously posted personal information on social media, resharing such data was not a violation of their privacy.
Misinformation and the spread of false narratives also posed a significant challenge during the protests. For instance, some individuals shared an alert indicating that the Finance Bill 2024 contained provisions to tax freehold land when in reality; this was addressed in a separate piece of legislation that was later withdrawn. Furthermore, before the court ruling on the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces, some accounts erroneously stated that the ruling deemed the deployment unconstitutional when this was not the case.
Another incident that highlighted the difficulties in verifying information was the Githurai massacre, where various social media users claimed that the government had sent General Service Unit (GSU) officers to kill people in the Githurai area. Several videos and photos were shared to this effect with some of them being tagged as fake. Interestingly, many local news stations did not report on this incident, but the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) took up the matter and expressing dismay, called for an investigation. To date, no one has been held accountable for this event. Ultimately, the nature of technology and the speed at which information can spread online make it challenging to reliably verify facts, particularly amid rapidly unfolding events.
Parting Shots…
Despite the challenges outlined above, the significance of digital activism in Kenya’s Gen Z protests cannot be understated. Social media has united individuals from diverse backgrounds for a common cause, enabling rapid and efficient dissemination of information and real-time updates. This connectivity has empowered citizens to document police brutality, corruption, and human rights violations, holding those in power accountable. Digital tools have also facilitated online petitions, crowdfunding campaigns, and virtual town halls, amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard. In sum, digital activism has revolutionized political engagement in Kenya, fostering community solidarity and pressuring the government for greater transparency and accountability.
Indeed when Kenya sneezes, Africa catches a cold. Countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda are now taking cues from Kenya’s protests and have organized their youth-led demonstrations to demand accountability and transparency in government. The Gen Z uprising in Kenya reveals the deep-rooted discontent Kenyans feel towards their government’s poor track record. This generation, once seen as politically passive, has risen to challenge the status quo, demanding that the government either improve or step aside.
Kenya’s history has been marked by struggles for independence, multiparty democracy, and a new constitution. Today, we fight for economic liberation. Power to the people! Viva Africa, Viva Kenya!
Natasha Kahungi is JURIST’S East Africa Bureau Chief. Natasha is a finalist law student at the University of Nairobi Faculty of Law and a Certified Public Accountant in training, currently serving as the Editor in Chief of the University of Nairobi Law Journal (UNLJ).
