Kenyans during the Finance Bill demonstrations in Nairobi on July, 2024|Photo Courtesy|
Kenya Kwanza’s government is facing growing criticism from frustrated citizens who feel abandoned by the very leaders they elected. High living costs, corruption, and lack of accountability have become rallying points for Kenyans who no longer trust the system.
During a heated X Spaces discussion, young Kenyans openly called out the government for its failures. The conversation, dominated by the #GenZManifesto, exposed the deep frustrations of a generation that refuses to remain silent.
Spoken word artist and Human rights activist Willy Oeba|Photo Courtesy|
One netizen, Willy Oeba, did not mince his words.
“We are still fighting the same issues since independence—poverty, ignorance, and disease. It is only in Kenya and in Nairobi that systems fail to work for the citizens. People cannot afford to live in Kenya,” he lamented, highlighting the economic struggles Kenyans are facing.
For Oeba, the biggest problem is the government’s failure to take responsibility.
“What pains me the most is the lack of accountability,” he added.
“Our MPs are not held accountable, and there is no proper oversight. How can an MP claim to have a net worth of 1 billion without any known startup or business to justify it? Leadership begins with us.”
Another netizen, who hails from Kibwezi West, called out his area MP for misplaced priorities.
“Just look at the audit report—the MP spent a lot of money to build a swimming pool with no water. Kibwezi West is a very dry area. I have never seen our MP, Mutuse, around; he is too busy moving motions against Gachagua and neglecting his constituency,” he remarked, exposing how leaders abandon their people after elections.
The discussion also tackled the performative nature of Kenyan politics, where leaders spend more time campaigning than working.
“You were elected to serve in office, but from January to December, you are always on top of cars. These leaders need to remember why they were elected,” one participant pointed out.
However, the Gen Z movement made it clear that their silence should not be mistaken for surrender.
“Sisi tulienda streets kwa sababu kulikuwa na mambo yenye serikali ilikuwa haifanyi sawa, na sisi tumewapatia time tu kidogo, tunawapima. Si ati tumenyamaza. Hata kesho tukiamua tunaenda streets, tutaenda,” one Netizen warned, signaling that protests could resume if things do not change.
Lawyer Joshua Okayo weighed in, pointing out the underlying issue in Kenyan governance.
“From my point of view as a lawyer, the real issue is impunity—people committing wrongs in every aspect without ever facing consequences,” he stated.
The conversation ended with a clear message: Kenyans are watching. The youth are no longer willing to accept a system that thrives on corruption, neglect, and impunity.
The #GenZManifesto is more than a trend—it is a demand for real change, and if the government does not act, the streets will once again become the battleground for justice.
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