I’m writing this from my home feeling disheartened at the turn of events that took place on Tuesday 25th June 2024, when an entire nation for the second week in a row, was up in arms over the Finance Bill 2024, only for the president to call for a media briefing to lecture the nation and call them treasonous and criminals out to ruin the country. I remember listening to his diction-filled speech and thinking to myself, “who did we give power to?” To say that I was angry would be an understatement, the man had completely nothing to say about the violence that was witnessed all over the country, violence that was brought into the protest by the police who are supposed to be protecting the citizens. What surprised me the most was how our mtukufu lies selectively interpreted the constitution to delegitimize article 1 clause 1 that speaks to the sovereignty of our power.
While we’ve been chanting that sovereign power belongs to the people and thus it is our right to hold our leaders to account, our chants fell on deaf ears and with much hubris and without an iota of shame he went ahead to say that he would use everything at his disposal to ensure the treason that happened on the previous day would not happen again. It’s ironic that Ruto was quick to speak out for MPS whom he claimed were representative of the people and so he would protect them. But who are these people? Aren’t they the millions of protestors out in the streets? Aren’t they the injured in hospitals with bullet wounds in their heads? Isn’t it Rex Maasai and the countless nameless who lost their lives outside the parliament? What about the extrajudicial killings that we have witnessed? the late-night abductions? The president’s speech only served to add fuel to the already blazing fire.
Anyway, before I fill up pages with mere lamentations, I’d like to point out a few things that have stood out for me over the past two weeks: first, that if not for anything else, I will celebrate that we as youth have been awakened to the reality of politics in our country. For a long time, we were merely observers and acted as though our actions didn’t matter, effectively giving way for bigots to take power and reign over us. Personally I have belonged to the ‘I don’t do politics’ crowd which is often misguided to think that nothing we, as ordinary citizens, do matters. I have never indulged in political conversations and have always had reservations about who would outrightly and unapologetically state their stand over issues. I remember a friend once quoting Bertolt Brecht’s famous quote on me in an attempt to stir up a political flame in me but it fell on deaf ears. Now I look back and reaffirm that truly, “the worst illiterate is the political illiterate; he hears nothing, sees nothing, and takes no part in political life.” Like a political illiterate, I was too proud to proclaim my abstinence from political matters, thinking myself very clever yet oblivious to how my silence gave much power to corrupt leaders. This past week has recharged me so much that my friends started nicknaming me ‘activist’. And to be honest that is not so bad at all. If anything, Ruto’s poor governance has birthed a generation of conscious youth, conscious about what is happening in the parliament, the senate, the county offices and conscious even of the private affairs of our ‘leaders’ who are really just politicians politicking around and feigning leadership.
Secondly, this week has taught me that we are a united country and we love our nation. I was so proud of chanting the national anthem in the street and seeing the passion in fellow youths to proclaim that we shall strive to make our country better. It was such a delight to see the coordination among the people to ensure the safety and wellbeing of each other. The Medics for Kenya who availed medical help and assistance to the injured protesters. The Law Society of Kenya that fronted the legal path and offered pro-bono services to those who were arrested during the demonstrations and even providing legal guidance throughout the entire process. The business men who provided water and avenues to charge phones to the protesters and some who even offered free food to the caregivers and the social workers who were out to support the protests. These actions only serve to show that we do have a working country but one that has sadly been hijacked by selfish, egoistic maniacs in the name of leaders who are out to squeeze us dry. Seeing honest individuals like Hanifa going out of their way to prudently manage the resources that were pooled together to help the victims of the protest gives us a glimpse of hope that we can have a better tomorrow. Even though our leaders don’t have our backs we have each other’s backs.
Lastly, I salute the Gen-Z’s who have for a long time trended for not so good reasons, being seen as carefree youngsters just out to enjoy life and surf social media. To see us take a stance to make a change and ensure that our voice is heard will surely go down in Kenya’s history is a stance that no one anticipated but one that revolutionized Kenya’s political sphere. This drive started out as a Gen-Z movement but has morphed to include the millennials, Gen X and even baby boomers who have come together to affirm their stand not just on the finance bill but on Ruto’s governance. This gives me hope that we are not alone. That we are ready to be the change that we want to see. I am excited about the next elections. I am looking forward to waking up that day to go out and vote and make a difference. We shall not tire until we reclaim our country!
