By Joe Aura, aurajoe6@gmail.com
From historical defiance to Gen Z’s digital revolution, Kenya’s protests are louder, younger, and more daring than ever before.
Every year on July 7, Kenya commemorates Saba Saba – a day that once marked bloodied demands for democracy, but today stands as a symbol of resilience, reflection, and the rebirth of people power.
What began in 1990 as a courageous revolt against one-party rule has evolved into a generational relay — from the defiant voices of Matiba, Rubia, and Raila to the hashtag-fueled resistance of Gen Z. This article revisits the roots of the movement, the heroes and martyrs who shaped it, and how today’s youth are reclaiming the spirit of Saba Saba.
The Originals/O.G Era (1990s)
On July 7, 1990, under the suffocating grip of a de facto one-party state, thousands of Kenyans defied President Daniel arap Moi’s regime by gathering at Nairobi’s Kamukunji Grounds. Their demand was simple but dangerous: the return of multiparty democracy.
Political dissent was illegal. Press freedoms were nonexistent. And yet, opposition leaders Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga dared to imagine a freer Kenya. Even though Matiba and Rubia were arrested days before the rally, the protest ignited a fire that police brutality could not extinguish.
According to The Star, over 6,000 Kenyans were arrested, and more than 20 killed in Nairobi and across the country, following protests. That one day of courage shook the foundations of dictatorship. It eventually led to the repeal of Section 2A of the Constitution in 1991, reopening Kenya to multiparty politics.
The Resistance (2000s–2010s)
In the 2000s and 2010s, Kenya entered a new phase marked by both democratic reform and widespread disillusionment. Although multi-party democracy had been reinstated, the promise of accountable governance remained unfulfilled. Corruption flourished, elections were plagued by irregularities and violence, and public trust in institutions declined sharply. Opposition leader Raila Odinga emerged as the central figure in challenging the status quo, backed by civil society groups, students, and trade unions.
Protests became a defining feature of the era — from the No Reforms, No Elections campaigns to mass demonstrations following the disputed 2007 presidential election, which triggered deadly post-election violence. The state responded with force, deploying police armed with teargas and live bullets to quash dissent, while international attention intensified, culminating in the indictment of Kenya’s top political leaders at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Amid the turmoil, however, came a major breakthrough: the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
Celebrated as one of Africa’s most progressive legal frameworks, it devolved power, empowered the judiciary, and expanded civic space. Yet despite this progress, years of repression and broken promises left many Kenyans weary, sceptical, and uncertain about whether protest could still bring lasting change.
The Gen Z Update (2020s–2025)
Under President William Ruto’s administration (2022–), Kenya witnessed an unprecedented wave of civic resistance driven by economic hardship and generational frustration. As public debt soared and new taxes threatened livelihoods, young people — already grappling with unemployment and underfunded education — reached a tipping point with the proposed 2024 Finance Bill. According to https://involvement.co.ke/ a proposed 2.5% Motor Vehicle Circulation Tax, was to be deducted directly from insurance premiums, would have disproportionately affected young car owners and online drivers. The 16% VAT on bread, a staple food, hit a nerve among struggling households. The eco levy, despite its environmental intention, was seen as punitive to youth tech consumption — especially with an additional $3 (KES 400) proposed tax per smartphone or tablet.
What began as online frustration quickly morphed into nationwide demonstrations, marking a dramatic shift in Kenya’s protest culture. Unlike previous movements led by political giants like Matiba or Raila, this uprising was decentralized and leaderless, driven by tech-savvy Gen Z activists. University students, TikTok creators, online influencers, and anonymous Twitter/X users organized through viral hashtags like #RejectFinanceBill2024, transforming smartphones into tools of resistance.
The state reacted with intimidation — abducting protesters in unmarked cars, harassing journalists, and threatening internet shutdowns. Yet instead of retreating, young Kenyans doubled down, livestreaming events, outing state agents, and rallying global solidarity. Their persistence paid off. For the first time in decades, the government relented, withdrawing the bill and directly engaging with protesters. The moment signified more than just policy reversal — it marked a generational awakening rooted not in tribal allegiance but in shared values, digital unity, and a bold vision for Kenya’s future.
In a rare reversal, President William Ruto publicly announced on June 26, 2025, that he would decline to sign the controversial Finance Bill 2024 into law, following intense public pressure.
“Listening keenly to the people of Kenya, who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 Finance Bill,” he said in a national address from State House, Nairobi.
He further proposed a 14-day period of multi-sectoral dialogue aimed at addressing not only the bill but also youth concerns around corruption and government spending.
Fighting Fear with Fear
With the opposition now appearing co-opted into the very government it once vehemently criticized, its traditional role as the vanguard of public dissent has visibly diminished. The so-called “handshake” politics — once touted as a symbol of unity — may have lulled some into thinking the nation’s problems had been resolved. But for many, especially the youth, the fight is far from over.
Disillusioned by the political elite’s failures and betrayals, Gen Z are no longer waiting for leaders — it’s making them.
Take Andrew Sakawa Ombeng’i, for instance. A Member of Parliament for Dagoretti North in the Youth Parliament of Kenya, Sakawa isn’t just speaking from behind a podium. He took part in several of the Gen Z-led protests and was even hit by a teargas canister during one of the marches.
‘It is good that young people are coming out to fight for their rights,’ he told me. ‘This shows they now want to be part of the change — unlike how they’ve always been perceived as apathetic or indifferent to national affairs.’
Sakawa is also the chairman of Green Touch Organization, a community-based group championing environmental education and tree planting among young children — a far cry from the tear gas-soaked streets of Nairobi. But he sees both roles as extensions of his civic duty.
‘Student leaders today are being paid to keep others from protesting,’ he added, ‘yet remain silent on government injustices. Now, how else would they matter?’
To him, protests are just one part of a larger civic awakening. ‘When the youth show up,’ he says, ‘they get a chance to be heard not only on the streets but also on the ballot.’
Perhaps the time has come for widespread civic education, not just for the youth but for the entire nation, to reclaim what it truly means to be Kenyan under the 2010 Constitution. As Stephen Wetheo Musau notes, this new generation understands that Kenya’s crisis is not simply tribal, but deeply classed, entrenched in corruption, exclusion, and state-sponsored violence. Their insistence on constitutional rights — especially Article 37’s protection of peaceful assembly — is a powerful reminder of the 2010 Constitution’s unfulfilled promises. As the country continues to grapple with economic inequity, rampant graft, and police brutality, the Saba Saba spirit must endure. Elders who once fought for democracy must now support this new frontline, ensuring history doesn’t repeat itself through betrayal or political opportunism.
The youth of Kenya, particularly Gen Z, have chosen to confront fear with an even more defiant kind of fear — not one of retreat, but of resolve. Despite watching their peers, and even those younger than them, get arrested, harassed, or disappear without a trace, they continue to march forward, emboldened by the belief that remaining silent now would cost the country another 50 or 60 years of suffering, oppression, and failed leadership. This fear of a wasted future fuels their courage. From being locked in Diani for over 12 hours, to evading abductions and dodging live bullets, many of them understand that the road ahead may lead to death, disappearance, or freedom — but the status quo is already unbearable.
If the Government is truly committed to constitutionalism, then listening to — and working with — this fearless generation may be the best path forward. Kenya’s hope lies in sustaining this momentum and rejecting the old habits of silence, tokenism, and tribalism. The revolution is no longer waiting for leaders. It has found new stewards.
This is a good article 👏🏾we say no to the old habits
An excellent piece Joe speaking to the contemporary Kenyan sociopolitical and economic landscape. While I deeply share in the spirit of Gen Z, we should not forget that the political class masquerading as our saviors have secretly taken over the Gen Z movement. Subsequently the movement is rapidly losing its original face. Secondly the so called Gen Z must avoid being used by the mean politicians to foment violence. Engaging in violence and destruction of property will not provide the jobs needed to make Kenya move forward but will only make things worse. Instead they must embrace dialogue in a structured way. Finally, the same people (Mt. Kenya residents) who are pretending to agitate for good governance (through Gen Z) are the same people who religiously elected the current government. They said …”Ruto was God sent, born again”. When Uhuru advised them to vote for Raila they said, ”Raila ni mganga, and mean; ”Ruto is generous,…….we want that thief, at least he will be stealing and sharing with us”. Some of will never buy what they are advocating for Joe.