Generation Z has transformed our political, social landscape

 

A section of Gen Zs led by Activist Kasmuel McOure addressing the media in Nairobi on August 7, 2024, where they confirm their NANE NANE a planned peaceful demonstration on Thursday, August 8, 2024, across the country to push President William Ruto to resign. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Christmas is a time of reflection, gratitude, peace, goodwill, love and compassion. It is a time for Christians to slow down a bit and contemplate what God has done for us throughout the year and what we have done in turn to keep him close to us and our families. Pope Francis teaches us that the birth of Christ shows us that God wanted to unite himself to every man and every woman and to communicate to us his life and joy.

Christmas reveals to us the immense love that God has for humanity, from where our hope and enthusiasm derive. Indeed, with the birth of Christ, a new promise is born, a new world comes into being, a world that can be ever renewed.

However, much of human history and the personal story of each one of us may be marked by difficulty and weakness, faith in the incarnation tells us that God is in solidarity with humanity. Although our experiences during 2024, the most difficult year in Kenya's recent history, have made us less hopeful and desperate, we also learned that the birth of Christ is a message of hope and of salvation.

It may seem that nothing is positive for the majority of Kenyans because they are wallowing in poverty, want and desperation to fend for their families and are weighed down by the high cost of living, over-taxation, pecuniary embarrassment, fear of abductions and extra-judicial killings and other violations of human rights. However, there is a silver lining for those who are not struggling with illnesses and other negative conditions that have characterised 2024. If you are healthy, have a meal, clothes to wear, a roof over your head, a job or work/business and a loved one on your side, you have much to be grateful for and to be hopeful.

Those with more have a Christian duty to share with the less fortunate and bring a smile to others. Christmas is a period of cheer, goodwill and peace to others, the way Christ does for all of us. It is a period to lay down our arsenals and reflect on the good that we can bring to humanity if we all play our small roles in our communities by doing God’s work and glorifying his name with our lives. The best thing to happen to Kenya in 2024, comparable only to the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution, was the emergence of Gen Z movement.

These are patriotic young Kenyans, armed with a national flag, a bottle of water and an android phone, who took to the streets to protest against bad governance, Finance Bill 2024 and the high cost of living, human rights violations and corruption. These are modern-day peaceful protesters, politically non-aligned, leaderless, driven by conviction and ready to die for their country, as many died at the hands of those who should have been protecting them.

Gen Z protests were very successful and although some of the successes appear short-lived, the Gen Z movement fundamentally transformed Kenya's political and social landscape. The Gen Zs have not recoiled under attacks, abductions and disappearances perpetrated against them and other Kenyans. Instead, they have taken to social media, where they are not subjected to tear-gas canisters and water canons; introducing in Kenya, perhaps the most effective method of protest.

The effects of the Gen Z political influence and strength have led to President William Ruto 'shaking hands' with the opposition and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, something he was strongly against. Gen Zs have demonstrated how power is transient by lighting fires under the seats of all Cabinet secretaries and other government appointees. No one is safe and indispensable as they can be replaced without notice or regard as it used to happen during the Moi era.

Unfortunately, this is not good for governance and democracy. Insecurity of tenure can make CSs and other government appointees ineffective and docile because of fear of doing anything that can draw attention to them and cost them their jobs.

Job insecurity also creates sycophancy. In fact, the President keeps on complaining about his appointees, while they have become more of apologists and “explainers” of the President’s actions/omissions instead of focusing on efficient and effective delivery of services. This in turn has made them look incompetent and clueless, sadly.