A movement spearheaded by digital-savvy young Kenyans is rocking the East African nation. Through platforms like TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, a wave of discontent has boiled over from social media onto the streets, forcing the government to backtrack on some proposals in the controversial 2024 Finance Bill.
The bill, deeply unpopular for its proposed tax hikes on essentials like bread and sanitary towels, has ignited a firestorm of protest. Kenyans, already burdened by rising living costs, saw the new taxes as a tipping point. The discontent began online, with hashtags like #RejectFinanceBill2024 trending across social media platforms.
"We are the Gen Zs, we were able to mobilise ourselves. We use TikTok as a space to be able to not only have young people come to protest but to educate them on the why," protester Zaha Indimuli told journalists.
The online protests quickly morphed into real-world action. Hundreds of young Kenyans took to the streets in Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Eldoret, chanting slogans and demanding the bills complete rejection. The movement, dubbed #OccupyParliament, mirrored the 2023 protests against rising living costs, but with a stronger digital undercurrent.
The contentious billThe 2024 Finance Bill, which was first presented in Parliament last month, introduces new taxes and levies that would increase the price of goods such as bread, diapers, and cars.
