NAIROBI, Kenya- The withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024 was a monumental victory for Kenya’s Gen Z, a testament to unprecedented digital mobilization and street power.
Yet, as Parliament convenes for the crucial budget reading season, a haunting question lingers: Was the bill merely a symptom, or the disease itself?
Gen Z’s uprising was “beyond the bill” from the start, a cry against deeper economic frustrations, rampant corruption, and a governance model that felt deaf to their aspirations.
Now, as the government presents its spending plans, the true test of whether it truly understood the message or merely conceded to pressure begins.
For Kenya’s youth, the budget is not just a collection of numbers; it’s a blueprint for their future. They are observing it with a keen, informed eye, looking for tangible shifts that address the core issues that fueled their protests.
The Finance Bill was rejected not just for its specific taxes, but because it symbolized a government seemingly out of touch, prioritizing its own appetite for spending over the biting cost of living for ordinary Kenyans.
This budget season, Gen Z isn’t just looking for what’s not in the bill (i.e., the withdrawn taxes). They are scrutinizing:
Youth Unemployment and Job Creation: Where are the concrete allocations for programs that create sustainable jobs, beyond tokenistic youth funds?
Is there significant investment in sectors that absorb young graduates, or initiatives that truly foster entrepreneurship and innovation?
For a generation facing bleak job prospects, budget lines on youth empowerment must translate into real opportunities, not just rhetoric.
Cost of Living Crisis: Will the budget genuinely alleviate the burden of high food, fuel, and housing costs? Are there meaningful subsidies where needed, or is the focus still on revenue collection that further squeezes household budgets?
Gen Z wants to see a commitment to making life affordable, not just managing inflation statistics.
Debt Servicing vs. Development: Kenya’s massive national debt is a significant concern, with a large chunk of the budget often going towards servicing it.
Gen Z questions if future generations are being burdened with debt from projects that don’t directly benefit them, especially when perceived corruption drains resources.
They demand a transparent account of how public money is borrowed and spent.
Accountability and Prudent Spending: The protests highlighted a deep distrust in government spending.
The budget is scrutinized for perceived extravagances, non-essential allocations, and the lack of accountability for past misused funds.
Gen Z’s digital tools mean they are quicker to spot discrepancies and question allocations that don’t align with public priorities.
Investment in Social Services: Are critical sectors like education, healthcare, and social protection receiving adequate, well-managed funding?
Gen Z expects a budget that invests in human capital and provides a robust social safety net, recognizing that quality public services are fundamental to upward mobility and well-being.
A “stale budget” would confirm Gen Z’s suspicion that their concerns were merely acknowledged under duress, not truly internalized.
It would suggest that the government learned only to withdraw a specific bill, not to fundamentally alter its approach to governance, transparency, and economic inclusivity.
This generation is also bringing a fundamentally different approach to the political arena, one that current leaders seem ill-equipped to comprehend:
Apolitical, Issue-Based Politics: Unlike previous generations often divided along tribal or party lines, Gen Z’s activism is remarkably non-tribal and focused squarely on issues like taxes, jobs, and corruption.
They care less about who is speaking and more about what is being said and whether it aligns with their pragmatic concerns. This makes them unpredictable for traditional politicians who rely on ethnic arithmetic.
Values Over Patronage:Their values differ sharply from older generations of politicians. Gen Z often values transparency, integrity, meritocracy, and digital fluency far more than loyalty, patronage networks, or rhetorical prowess.
They see through empty promises and grand gestures, demanding tangible results and genuine accountability. This makes them less susceptible to the usual political bargaining chips.
The Understanding Gap: The inherent challenge for the government is to truly understand and engage with these nuanced demands and this distinct political style.
Attempting to apply old political playbooks – be it coercion, co-option, or even traditional apologies – falls flat because it misses the fundamental shifts in how this generation views power, participates in civil discourse, and demands change.
As the budget season unfolds, it’s not just economists and politicians who are listening. A new political force, armed with an unwavering commitment to their future, is watching.
The future of Kenya’s political landscape, and the trust between its leaders and its vibrant youth hinges on whether this government truly reflects a listening government or merely a temporary tactical retreat.
