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KENYA: ‘Young people want their concerns to be addressed, not dismissed because of their age’

BinaMasenoCIVICUS discusses recent protests in Kenya with Bina Maseno, Executive Director of Badili Africa, a women’s rights organisation that seeks to engage young women who are disenfranchised, disengaged and disillusioned by politics.

On 25 June 2024, Kenyan security forces fired on protesters, killing several people. Protesters, mostly young people, had taken to the streets in protest against the Finance Bill 2024, which increased taxes on essential goods to meet revenue targets set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Under pressure, President William Ruto withdrew the bill, but protests continued to demand the government introduce political reforms and be held accountable for protest killings. Overall, almost 40 people have been confirmed dead, and hundreds injured, since the protests began.

Who were the protesters and what were their demands?

The main catalyst for the protests was a finance bill that most people perceived as punitive and imposed by financial institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank. People expressed frustration that their government seemed more interested in meeting external demands than addressing people’s needs. The bill included taxes on basic manufactured goods essential for everyday life, such as sanitary towels, diapers and cooking oil.

But the protests have not been just about the Finance Bill; there is a lot more under the surface. There is widespread dissatisfaction with Kenya’s debt situation. People feel there was a lack of transparency about borrowed funds, causing uncertainty about how money is being spent. Discontent has been further fuelled by persistent corruption, visible in politicians living opulent lives that their official salaries can’t account for. This contrasts sharply with the daily struggles of the ordinary people they represent, exacerbating the sense of injustice.

High levels of unemployment among young people have added a further layer of frustration. According to the World Bank, every year about one million people graduate from tertiary education institutions in Kenya, but only 50,000 can find jobs. The very limited opportunities available result in anger and hopelessness.

Protesters have also expressed a widespread dissatisfaction with public participation through institutional channels, seen as meaningless because representatives aren’t responsive to the needs of their constituents. The majority of members of the ruling coalition voted in favour of the Finance Bill despite their constituents’ widespread opposition.

In short, the protests are not only an outcry against specific economic measures, but also a broader call for accountability, transparency and genuine representation. Key protest demands include a cut in the salaries of members of parliament, the abolition of positions not provided for in the constitution, such as chief administrative secretaries, and the fight against corruption, starting with the removal of corrupt officials implicated in scandals. There are also calls for the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to allow for continuous voter registration and the recall of members of parliament. Young protesters also stress the importance of quality public participation in policy-making processes.

Why did the protests continue after President Ruto withdrew the Finance Bill?

Protests resumed because the deeper issues had not been addressed. The government’s violent response resulted in many deaths and injuries, with 39 confirmed deaths and over 200 injured. There have also been allegations of infiltration of protests to disrupt and discredit the movement.

At the root of the unrest is Ruto’s failure to address wider citizen discontent, including issues such as a lack of action against corruption, unconstitutional government positions and a bloated wage bill The current administration attempted to create 50 positions known as chief administrative secretaries, distributed across various ministries, and an office of the prime cabinet secretary. These were all illegal, and a court ruling determined they were unconstitutional. On top of this, they were unjustified because they duplicated existing roles and their budgets, tied to the offices of the first lady and deputy first lady, have bloated the wage bill.

Ruto’s combative stance – his failure to address people’s demands, his authorisation of violent repression and his refusal to acknowledge the loss of life, including by failing to offer condolences to victims’ families – has only added to people’s anger and frustration.

The government needs to really listen and act on the needs of the people who continue to express their concerns every day. Young people account for over 65 per cent of the Kenyan population, and want their voices heard and their concerns addressed, not dismissed because of their age.

What’s new about the ways protesters organised and mobilised?

There have been significant innovations in organisation and mobilisation. The protests have largely been organised through social media, without any financial incentive. Creatives, including musicians, comedians and influencers, who typically avoid political conversations, played a crucial role in spreading information about the Finance Bill. Users of platforms such as TikTok translated the bill into different Kenyan languages, ensuring widespread understanding and engagement. Information quickly spread through other social media platforms and messaging apps such as Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp.

Fundraising efforts have also been innovative and highly successful. For example, the M-Changa group raised 8 million Kenyan shillings (approx. US$62,400) in two hours and 25 million (approx. US$195,000) in two days, with contributions coming both from local and diaspora communities. Local fundraising was crucial in supporting those affected by protests.

The protests themselves have been characterised by unique forms of expression. People have played football, sang and engaged in cultural and artistic activities, combining protest with creativity and community spirit. This approach contrasts with typical confrontational protests and shows a new way of expressing dissent.

Did the protests provide a space for the expression of women’s, and specifically young women’s, demands?

Unfortunately, the face of Kenyan politics is predominantly male, and this is also the case in youth movements. Women play a crucial role in Kenyan society, and in civil society in particular, but continue to face significant barriers against political participation. We have yet to reach the minimum threshold of 30 per cent women’s representation in parliament, as required by our constitution and the United Nations. Women’s representation in elected office currently stands at 24 per cent, with young women making up less than one per cent.

Efforts to address this include the two-thirds gender rule, which aims to ensure that no more than two-thirds of elected positions are held by people of the same gender. But existing gender quotas are inadequate. The party structures and leaders that influence candidate selection are not sufficiently inclusive of women and exploit loopholes in the rules.

Pervasive gender-based violence, particularly against young women, is another major obstacle. Social media, where young people often express themselves politically, offers a space for trolling and cyberbullying. There’s no legislation addressing the evolving nature of gender-based violence.

Access to resources and the impact of social and cultural norms, such as unpaid care work, also limit women’s participation. Governments need to pay more attention to the conversation on unpaid care work and its impact on women’s employment and leadership opportunities.

But civil society has been instrumental in supporting women. Including young women, to take on leadership roles. Organisations such as Badili Africa work to engage young female university students as a pipeline to national politics. Workshops and training for women at the grassroots level aim to transform their roles from party mobilisers to stakeholders in local development and planning.

What international support does Kenyan civil society need?

The challenges we face as a country and globally require coordinated efforts to draw global attention to the concerns people are raising. International support that ensures the common good and not just the interests of powerful economic players are reflected on the global stage is important. Right now, what we need from the international community is international solidarity and diplomatic pressure on the Kenyan government to uphold democratic principles, protect freedom of expression and stop harassing activists and using violence against peaceful protesters.

Advocacy for civic space is particularly important. Civil society needs protection from the threats it faces when it speaks out against the government. Freedom of expression must be guaranteed and civil society should not face negative repercussions for exercising its watchdog role.


Civic space in Kenya is rated ‘obstructed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.

Get in touch with Badili Africa through its website and follow @Badili_A and @BinaMaseno on Twitter.

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