Gen Z protests: Maturing democracy, new dawn of leaders’ introspection

 Youths demonstrate in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya against the Finance Bill on June 25, 2024. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NMG

In Kenya this week, two things happened: Senators and other politicians looked themselves in the mirror. And President William Ruto hosted an X Space to discuss emerging issues from his administration with the youth.

Both events were unthinkable a month ago, until deadly protests ensued. For three weeks, young Kenyans poured into the streets demanding, initially, a rejection of tax proposals included in a Finance Bill, before they went for the entire government for its perceived and real corruption, opulence and impunity.