On Kenya’s Succesful Protests and Nigerian Students’Standing

“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world…would do this, it would change the earth” – William Faulkner

Freedom of speech, as a fundamental human right, has been seen in full expression in the Western world in ways that have led to positive change in history. For so long, the continent of Africa has been a spectator to this, with a few exceptions like the famous Nelson Mandela-led fight against Apartheid rule in South Africa. Nigeria, the Giant of Africa, has seen a lot of protests in the past, the most recent being the #EndSARS protest against police brutality. Going by this, one would expect that if there were ever to be a fruitful revolution in Africa, Nigeria would be at the forefront, but as time and chance would have it, that isn’t the case. 

On the coast of Eastern Africa, with a population of about 6 million people, Kenya, a country overlooked by most and not regarded as one of Africa’s powerhouses, has shocked the world and might be the chief cornerstone in the reform Africa desperately needs. 

How It All Began 

Over the years, Kenya, a hub for wildlife and natural habitation, has become a region where neocolonialism and imperialist incursions from both the Western and Eastern extremes of the world have taken centre stage. The influx and sheer dominance of the neo-colonists led to their becoming significant shareholders in the Kenyan economy and, to some extent, the country’s affairs. As naturally expected, this has birthed the delocalisation of the economy.  In other words, the indigenous people have been robbed of their right to have a major say in piloting affairs in the country. 

Having lingered for a long time, the Kenyan youths became understandably and rightfully agitated, thus pushing them to map out a strategy to ensure a carefully premeditated protest. This was staged, focusing on tackling the issue of their denied rights demanding transparency in Kenya’s leadership system. 

The Uprising and Results Achieved 

On June 18, 2024, the youthful populace of Kenya took to the streets and social media with the hashtag “Reject Finance Bill.” This was aimed at opposing the newly drafted Finance Bill and other alleged constitutional anomalies by the William Ruto-led administration. These issues include the high cost of living, high inflation rate, and extravagant budget expenditures of the government. 

The Finance Bill introduced new tax measures, such as 15% on the income of all digital content creators and influencers, plus a tax hike on social activities like betting. The protest was conducted directly, concisely, and well-targeted, with the Parliament complex in central Nairobi as the epicentre. The pressure on the government was so immense that the President had no choice but to consent to their wish. He retracted the Finance Bill, stating it wouldn’t be signed into law. However, the youth weren’t just satisfied.

The scope and objectives of the protest traversed other areas beyond the Finance Bill. Hence, the announcement was insufficient. Even though the incumbent president didn’t tick all the boxes, they called for his resignation. In response to this, the President announced a huge cutdown of the budget to compensate for revenue loss, which stemmed from the rejection of the Finance Bill 2024. Although about 39 deaths, 361 injured persons, 627 arrests and 32 cases of “enforced disappearances” were recorded, the venture by the Kenyan youths was successful. The most important achievement was the immediate rescinding of the Tax Bills and obnoxious economic reforms by the government.

Key Players in the Protest

The core of the protests was formed by the youths and students in Kenya. University students, with those of the University of Kenyatta at the forefront, in one mind and voice, fought for the cause through their student unions. Student press releases, printing of banners and handbills and refusal to attend classes all played a massive role in making the protest a success. The synchrony and alignment of thoughts among the youth populace were instrumental. A common objective was already laid out, and everyone had to comply. This helped a great deal in establishing and sustaining unity throughout the whole process. Also, the ability of the legislative, judicial, and executive systems of government to act independently played a pivotal role in its success. 

Where We Stand in All of These

It is a shame that a nation thought to be the pacesetter on the continent fails to stage successful protests. #EndSARS was a grand opportunity for the country to change its course for the better, one that was squandered. The unsuccessful outcome of the protests seemed to have given more power to those in government to act without minding the consequences. 

Within our university itself, there’s a dormancy of activists. Students are too disconnected from causes of such a nature for one to expect a possible replication. Recall that political parties drafted students for campaigns even in the last elections. There was even the controversy of the Union’s President at the time, pledging support of all UI students to a Presidential candidate and then backpedalling after pushback came. In such an environment, where leadership support that would determine the country’s progress can be bought, expecting the spirit of aluta to live is tantamount to self-deceit.

It’s also sad to see tribalism and religion playing a role at this level, but it’s our reality, and we must contend with it. In the last two SU Elections, both reared their ugly heads as determining factors for many voters. It is not farfetched to think that in the event of a similar march in the nation’s capital, individuals would capitalise on this to sow seeds of discord among youth. Dress these vices in shiny suits and give them names like ‘zoning’ and ‘regional interest’. 

Like Kenya, Nigerian youths stand at a difficult crossroads. Within the university, attempts to speak up against harsh conditions are met with stiff opposition from the administration. If such statements can be made at an institutional level, then national coordination might be unattainable. The aftermath of the #EndSARS protests left many disillusioned with the idea of change via demonstrations, especially with the shootings on the 20th of October, 2020. The conditions in place make hope slim, but at the end of the day, hope is all we have and hope we must utilise to reap the change we seek. Nigeria has a lot to learn from the Kenyan protests. We have all it takes to rewrite the course of our country and win it back before it’s too late, but we have to consider adhering to recommendations, some of which are in this article and many others cited by the country’s brightest minds. 

Nmesomachi Okoronkwo.