1
When the dust is still in the air
When the feet of the youth
Stomping, dancing, hustling
Like Mau Mau on a warpath
In the forests of cities and towns
Stomping away dead past
Stamping a bold new future
It’s time to ask ourselves
What just happened?
2
The books say that revolution is a process
That it is spread over years
Across generations
Sometimes hopeful, sometimes desperate
At times one step forward
Other times two steps backwards
Slow, measured, frustrating
Usually by known suspects
Career politicians and activists
This one threw away the rulebooks
3
When thousands of youth
Pour into the streets of cities and towns across the country
Faceless, organic, leaderless
From different fronts
Like swarms of bees
Seemingly un-coordinated and un -organised
Mobilising themselves through social media
Their hot blood swelling their veins
Shouting Hashtag Reject Finance Bill 2024!
A minimum penalty
Against the goal of an unjust society
The goal that has eluded past generations
The revolution is in the air
4
Past generations of activists watch in studious silence
We’ve seen this before, they say
From the Mau Mau in the 50s
KPU protests in the 60s
After the murder of JM Kariuki in the 70s
December Twelve Movement
Mwakenya
1982 coup attempt
Pro – democracy protests in the 90s
NARC Revolution in 2002
New Constitution in 2010
The road has been long and winding
Our hearts are now consoled, they say
Their children are now all grown up
It’s their time now to take over the mantle
It’s an inter-generational struggle
5
But there is a slight difference in this one
The dictatorship then was clear
White colonial regime!
Kenyatta and Moi!
Figureheads easy to rally against
The liberal world closing in
Okaying the resistance
With buzz words of good governance, accountability and transparency
The leadership of the revolution then was visible
This one the leadership is invisible
Smartphones are their guiding stars
Social media is their battlefield
The keyboard warriors have come out!
6
Youthful revolutions are sparking across Africa
In Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, South Africa
By the pen, by the ballot, by the gun, by social media
Any which way, freedom must come
Dub poet Mutabaruka would put it
7
But wait!
The revolution better be careful of betrayal
Consuming itself and its children
It happened to Mau Mau
To Thomas Sankara
In the North African uprising
The so – called Arab spring
In Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt
Guinea, Niger, Sudan
The youth arose in masses
Regimes fell
Dictators were thrown in jails, silenced or in exile
The youth were united in the revolution
But they had not organized their leadership
Beneficiaries of the revolution were varieties of similar despots
8
When the youth
Inspired by immortal spirits of freedom
Seizing the times
Damning the powers that be
Taking over the streets
Sparking all over carnivals of resistance
Contemplative glances are necessary
Of past and present spirits wounded in betrayals
Of young souls lost unsung
As political barons shared the spoils of power
Dissipating revolutionary energies
Cautions are necessary
9
Yes, revolution is a carnival of resistance
But carnivals also need organization
To harness and safeguard this carnival
Just in case power falls on the streets
There will be combatants to pick it up
Not the same varieties of political opportunists and traitors
This has happened before
It is happening all over the world
It can happen in this revolution
The revolution needs security
