Kenya’s Gen Z anti-tax revolutionaries – the new face of protest

What began as outrage on TikTok over the controversial Finance Bill has morphed into a rebellion, though it was not organised by any political party.

President William Ruto’s government has achieved something generations of politicians in the East African country have failed to do: unite vast swaths of Kenyans across ethnic and political lines.

On Tuesday, hundreds of sneaker-clad protesters, fearful of little progress being made in an already overtaxed Kenyan population, marched through the capital, Nairobi, paralysing the city’s central business district, braving tear gas hurled by police.

With their smartphones in hand, they live-streamed the violent clashes with police.

The protests, dubbed the “Occupy the Capitol”, were coordinated and mobilised on social media, in contrast to protests led and supported by politicians.

Organizers encouraged other protesters to wear black clothing, but some showed up in ripped jeans and stylish haircuts.

Young protesters, known as “Generation Z,” a common term for those born in the late 1990s and early 2000s, came out in large numbers and vowed that their grievances would not end with hashtags and memes.

“We are Gen Z and we have been able to mobilise ourselves. We are using TikTok as a platform to not only engage young people in the protests but also to educate them on why we are protesting,” protester Zaha Indimri told reporters.

Many of them were taking part in a demonstration for the first time, waving placards that read “Stop taxing us” and some shouting “Ruto must go.”

“I am working as a slave for the country I love. This is the first time I’ve done anything like this as my parents are old and can no longer work,” Ken Makiliya, a 24-year-old university student, told the BBC.

The hashtags used to put pressure on lawmakers and rally protesters were “#OccupyParliament” and “#RejectFinanceBill2024.”

“This is my first protest. I hope it will be the last. I hope things will change after this,” said Naserian Kasra, who opposes the proposed tax on sanitary napkins.

Protesters attempted to march to Parliament but were thwarted when police used water cannons to block them.

“They have arrested us but please don’t let them get you. Please go to parliament,” Hanifa Falsafi, one of the organizers, posted on X (formerly Twitter).

More than 200 young protesters were arrested, but some were later released after their lawyers went to the police stations where they were being held.

“I’m not going, I’m not cooperating, why are you arresting me?” one protester was heard saying in a viral video as she refused to enter a police vehicle.

Those who couldn’t take to the streets helped spread the word by sharing messages, photos and videos on social media.

The protests had no clear leadership, making it difficult for police to target those behind them. Though protesters claimed they met all the requirements, police banned the demonstrations on technical grounds.

Also, unlike previous anti-government political protests, there was no looting, destruction of property, or stone-throwing.

No political affiliation or ethnic ties were mentioned, just a clear determination by the protesters to make their voices heard.

Hours after the protesters rallied, the presidential office appeared to bow to pressure and announced it would scrap some of the bill’s most controversial provisions, including a proposal to impose a 16% value-added tax (VAT) on bread.

“We have listened to Kenyans,” Kuria Kimani, chairman of parliament’s finance committee, told a news conference attended by President Ruto and lawmakers from the ruling coalition.

Kimani added that the changes to the Finance Bill were driven by the “need to protect Kenyans from the rising cost of living.”

The government has previously defended the tax increases, saying they are expected to raise $2.7 billion (£2.1 billion) and are necessary to reduce reliance on external borrowing.

Other proposals that were scrapped included taxes on edible oil, mobile money services and motor vehicles, which critics said would hit the insurance sector.

Lawmakers are currently debating the revised bill, with a vote expected next Tuesday.

Opposition parties, who did not take part in the protests, have called the bill “punitive” and called for the entire bill to be withdrawn.

Another hashtag activists are using is “#unfollowRuto”, calling on people to stop following the president on X to pressure him to repeal the bill.

They vowed to continue protesting in Nairobi and other cities until the bill is completely withdrawn.

A few days ago, Presidential Adviser David Ndie had rudely dismissed the online initiative that began on TikTok about two weeks ago, but after a strong stance on Tuesday, he acknowledged its success.

Following the release of the draft bill, TikTok users began creating explanatory videos which were widely shared on other platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and X. With a push from Kenyan influencers, it trended for several days.

One of the tactics to draw attention to MPs was a list of phone numbers of MPs shared on social media with the message: “Send an SMS to your MP.”

Senator Steven Muhl told local media that he had received more than 30,000 spam messages on his phone from young Kenyans urging him to reject the bill, and other lawmakers have complained that the volume of text messages has essentially blocked their phones.

Local media have also picked up on the online conversation, with protests and issues around the cost of living being given prominence.

He complied, posting on social media: “So proud to be a father today! Applause for all those who bravely stood up for their rights!”

Veteran journalist Mutuma Matiu said Tuesday’s events had changed the dynamics of Kenyan politics: “Protest politics has found a new fulcrum and a new generation of Kenyans has become much more vocal.”

Popular political commentator Pauline Njoroge agreed: “They are not only brave but also very calm and well-spoken. Today’s youth-led protests are the most peaceful yet very successful.”

Former county governor and legal scholar, Professor Kivta Kibwana, prompted the dialogue in his post about X, saying “the most dangerous thing for a government to do is to declare war on the youth.”

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Dr Willie Mutunga said young people around the world had a common enemy in their respective ruling classes and warned that “rebellion is on the horizon”.

The government has long been concerned that social media could be used to foment discord and has called for greater regulatory oversight.

In March, the Home Secretary accused TikTok of spreading hateful content and warned that it would restrict its use.

But the protesters are not ready to give in.

“We are not scared, we are not overwhelmed. This is just the beginning of the revolution. We are coming, we are many, we are many,” Indimuri said on the sidelines of Tuesday’s demonstration.