Abstract
Wangui Kimari, Luke Melchiorre and Jacob Rasmussen [2020] have examined how the youth in Kenya have discursively responded to the state action across time and space. They assessed “the informal spaces of youth political activity as discursive sites of investigation.” The youth agency is seen as the engine of political change. The rising power and agency of young people is taking on a forceful historically disruptive trajectory against ‘ancient’ political dynasties based on patronage and clientilism. Through the use of social media the faceless, ‘tribeless’, party-less and leaderless young people are spontaneously reacting to harsh economic realities and unpopular state fiscal policies driven by a desire to change the decadent deep state politics. Since June this year, the Generation [Gen] Z has organized demonstrations in the cities in response to neo-liberal policies that have led to unbearable lives for the majority. Albeit in nuanced ways, the youth in Kenya have been since the Mau Mau anti-colonial rebellion [1952-56], engaged in the struggle for social welfare, human rights, press freedom and better future. Today, they are involved in pursuit of generational change against our politics of dynasties and ethnic mobilization [Kagwanja, 2006]. This paper seeks to investigate the role and coping mechanisms of the youth in responding to the state policies of poor governance, corruption, marginalization and politics of failed promises.
Keywords: bulge theory, revolutionary social movements’ theory, youth protests in Kenyan history, neo-liberal policies, World Bank and IMF policies, Solutions to youth problems
Speakers
Paul Opondo
Moi University (Kenya)
Of Youth Agency and Political Activism in Historical Perspective: Comparing the Colonial and Post-Colonial Epochs in Kenya
In this paper we assess a more nuanced politics of youth movement against the excesses of state power. Political consciousness among Kenya began after the First World War. Former students of Maseno School formed the Young Kavirondo Association (YKA) formed in 1921 led by Jonathan Okwiri. Under the name of Piny Owach-the people have spoken-its main point was to lobby against Kenya becoming a colony, the kipande system, increase of hut tax and push for the introduction of paramount chiefdom for the Luo. Similarly in Central Kenya, the youth agency was evident in the manner that the pioneer political formations were created. By 1921 there was the Young Kikuyu Association formed in 1921. Led by Harry Thuku, it protested against land alienation by the colonial government, the kipande system, taxation on Africans, and poor wages and working conditions. In comparison with the modern day youth activism in Kenya, we explicate the role of the external factors such as the harsh economic realities caused by neo-liberal fiscal and punitive policies, the use of social media and erosion of accountability of state power and demands for global respect of citizens’ rights as the main drivers of youth social movements. Yet the youth in Kenya-known as anake 40-equally played a fundamental role during the anti-colonial Mau Mau rebellion between 1952 and 1956. When Kenya gained independence in 1963 it was due to the efforts of the youth who had spearhead new political formations. The paper seeks to draw a comparative line between the colonial day youth social movements and the present-day faceless and tribeless media-driven youth politics.
Key words: Political associations, Kenyan history, historical perspectives, social and political movements
Prisca Tanui Too
Moi University (Kenya)
Historicisation of Youth Social Movements and Politics in Kenya
The history of youth social movements and politics in Kenya is deeply intertwined with the broader historical, social, and political developments in the country. From the colonial era to post-independence struggles, youth movements have been pivotal in shaping Kenya's political landscape, often acting as catalysts for change. This paper traces the evolution of youth activism, from its early roots in uprising movements to the current generation of politically engaged young people. Although studies focusing on individual youth protests abound, historical perspective tracing the trajectories of youth social movements and politics has not been adopted. Historically, Kenyan youth have played a pivotal role in challenging political systems, particularly during periods of political repression. Through the agency approach this study using a qualitative approach of content analysis of historical texts, speeches and media examines youth protest movements in Kenya. Thematic analysis will be employed to identify key themes and patterns in youth social movements and politics. Objectives includes tracing youth movements and politics during the colonial period, youth movements during the one-party era and Gen-Z activism and use of digital mobilization. It argues that the history of youth social movements and politics in Kenya reflects their continued drive for meaningful change in the face of economic hardship and political disillusionment. The growing trend of young people leveraging technology to mobilize and demand change has meaningful change, it has destroyed existing boundaries, such as ethnicity, and inspired a new generation to engage in politics and advocate for social justice, challenging entrenched systems and pushing for reforms in areas like good governance and anti-corruption efforts.
Key words: Historicisation, Social movement, Politics, Youth Social movements, Kenya
Bramwel Matui
Moi University (Kenya)
Youth Protests in Digital space in 2024-2025: An Emergent Public Power in Political Constitutionalism in Kenya
This study examines how Ruto Must Go youth movement in Kenya represents a transformation in the practice of political constitutionalism through digital public power. Grounded in Participatory Culture Theory and New Institutional Theory, the study explores the nature of digital protests as a form of public power; it also examines the institutional, technological, and socio-political factors shaping its emergence; in addition, finally the study unearths the governance outcomes of this form of public power- including policy shifts, institutional responses, and shifts in political engagement. Using thematic analysis of both mainstream and social media content, the study situates the Ruto Must Go youth protests within a broader historical trajectory by comparing them to the post-2022 post-election protests led by opposition leader Raila Odinga. The comparison highlights continuities and changes in mobilization strategies, institutional responses, and the framing of legitimacy and public power in political constitutionalism. Additionally, the study examines power and counter-power dynamics, analyzing how state actors and political elites have adapted through repressive and accommodative strategies- including digital surveillance, legal restrictions, and co-optation efforts. Government and policy documents, alongside media reports on official responses, provide further insights into the contested nature of digital protests. The findings contribute to debates on youth agency, digital activism, and the evolving relationship between political constitutionalism and public power in Kenya’s post-2010 constitutional order. This study further enriches studies on Kenya’s hybrid constitutionalism in this post-2010 Constitution where both judicial reviews and political means operate side by side in putting a constraint on the actions of government.
Keywords: youth protests, digital public power, political constitutionalism
Christopher Joseph Odhiambo
Moi University (Kenya)
Gen Z Protests in Kenya: From Streets to Digital Spaces
In recent times, Gen Z in Kenya has emerged as a powerful force in social and political activism, utilizing both physical and digital spaces to amplify their voices. This paper examines the evolving landscape of protest among Kenyan youth, focusing on how street demonstrations are increasingly intertwined with digital activism on platforms like Twitter(X), TikTok, and Instagram. By exploring the #FinanceBill2024 and #TaxJusticeKE movements, the study interrogates the motivations, strategies, and impact of Generation Z's activism. Deploying qualitative approach, including digital ethnography and content analysis of social media posts, the research engages in the criticality of the interplay between online and offline protest strategies. It also explores how digital platforms enable decentralized leadership, rapid mobilization, and the creation of counter-narratives, challenging traditional power structures and state surveillance. The findings aspires to proffer insights into how Gen Z navigates censorship, the digital space, and state repression while redefining civic engagement and political participation. This study underscores the importance of digital spaces as crucial sites of political expression and resistance, reshaping protest and democracy in Kenya and beyond. It calls on scholars, policymakers, and activists to reconsider traditional political participation frameworks in light of the dynamic and hybrid nature of contemporary protest movements led by GenZ.
Keywords: Generation Z, Kenya, Digital Activism, Social Movements, Political Participation, Social Media, Protest Dynamics
Catherine Kiprop
Moi University (Kenya)
Gendered Voices of Resistance: Young Women's Agency in Political Protests and Social Movements in Kenya
This paper examines the agency of young women in Kenya's political protests and social movements, emphasizing the gendered dimensions of youth political engagement. While youth agency in political contestation has gained scholarly attention, the specific contributions of young women remain underexplored. Grounded in feminist theory, intersectionality, and youth agency frameworks, this paper interrogates how young women navigate gendered socio-political landscapes to assert their voices in the public sphere. It critically examines how intersecting factors such as patriarchy, digital activism, and socio-economic conditions shape young women's participation in social movements. The paper addresses the following research questions: How do young women in Kenya exercise agency in political protests and social movements? What structural and cultural barriers do young women face in these political spaces? How does digital activism influence the strategies and outcomes of young women's political engagement? In what ways can policy and practice better support the agency of young women in political contestation? By synthesizing existing literature and applying theoretical perspectives on gender, youth, and activism, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the gendered nature of political contestation in Kenya. It calls for more inclusive frameworks in research, policy, and practice to recognize and amplify the voices of young women as key actors in social and political change. The paper concludes by proposing directions for future research to further unpack the complexities of gendered youth agency in Kenya's socio-political landscape.
Keywords: Youth Women Agency, Feminist theory, gendered dimensions, Political protests, Social movements