NAIROBI, Kenya— In a scene that blended raw emotion with political symbolism, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino joined Gen Z protestors in Nairobi’s Central Business District on Wednesday, earning cheers—and even a literal lift—from demonstrators marking the anniversary of last year’s deadly anti-Finance Bill protests.
Carried shoulder-high by chanting youths, the lawmaker punched the air in a show of solidarity, flashing a clenched fist as protesters chanted slogans around him.
The message was unmistakable: this wasn’t just about optics—it was a full-circle moment for a generation demanding accountability.
On June 24, Babu Owino had posted a message urging young Kenyans to “soldier on” and show up in honor of the more than 60 lives lost during the June 2024 protests.
That crackdown, which followed fierce opposition to the repealed 2024 Finance Bill, left a scar on the national psyche and gave birth to one of Kenya’s most potent youth-led movements in recent memory.
“What I will tell my Gen Z brothers and sisters is to fight on, soldier on. It is not over until it is over,” Babu said in his pre-protest video.
His voice joined a growing chorus calling the protestors “fallen soldiers”—a reference that underscores just how high the emotional and political stakes have become.
But it wasn’t just talk. Today, he matched his words with action.
The turnout in Nairobi was electric. With placards bearing names of the dead, and spontaneous moments of song and silence, the demonstration took on the tone of both a protest and a memorial.
At the center of it all stood Babu, hoisted into the air by a crowd that seemed to see him as more than just a politician—for the day, he was one of them.
“I’m with you at 11 on a scale of 0 to 10,” he had joked on Tuesday. By Wednesday, it looked like the feeling was mutual.
The protests have not been confined to Nairobi. Youth-led events took place across major towns, from Kisumu to Mombasa, with a consistent call for justice for the dozens allegedly abducted, maimed, or killed during last year’s demonstrations.
Human rights organizations estimate at least 61 deaths occurred during the 2024 crackdown, though government figures place the number at 42.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen struck a more cautious tone, warning that law enforcement would respond “firmly” to any violence or destruction. He emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order but stopped short of addressing allegations of excessive force used in previous protests.
What began as a simple call to remember the fallen transformed into a sweeping reminder that Kenya’s youth are not only politically conscious but increasingly politically active. And with leaders like Babu Owino stepping into the streets rather than staying behind podiums, the gap between governance and grassroots appears just a little bit smaller—if only for now.
Whether the message reaches State House is another question entirely.
But one thing is clear: Gen Z is not backing down, and their movement is no longer just a hashtag. It’s a force rewriting Kenya’s political playbook, one protest at a time.
