Gen Z must channel grievances through constitutional means

Generation Z’s greatest strength lies in their ability to access information in real time, bypassing traditional media in favour of digital platforms.

Social media, blogs, podcasts and video content have become the primary tools for civic engagement. These tools are empowering also a potential Achilles heel.

Unlike traditional media, where information is vetted and outlets are held accountable for inaccuracies, digital media often spreads unchecked misinformation. The result is a post-truth environment in which emotion frequently outweighs evidence.

Take, for instance, the ongoing controversy surrounding the Finance Bill 2025. Many Gen Z activists protesting against it have not read or internalised its contents. Fewer still can identify which clauses are truly contentious and whether they have been amended by Parliament. Yet, as with last year, the rallying cry remains, “Reject the Finance Bill.”

During a recent public participation forum, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi was shocked to discover a fake version of the Finance Bill circulating widely among Gen Z. It included fabricated proposals-raising VAT to 18 per cent, taxing milk and bread and even levying tax on newborns. None of these exist in the actual Bill. Mr Mbadi clarified these falsehoods which had been weaponised to inflame public sentiment in an already strained economic environment.

Unfortunately, such disinformation has taken deep root in online discourse. Digital echo chambers reinforce these falsehoods, stoking outrage while shutting out alternative views. As a result, public debate is increasingly divorced from reality and guided by viral narratives than verifiable facts.

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June 25 marks the anniversary of last year’s violent protests. The tragic loss of life then remains a national scar. Justice must be served: Both to those guilty of excessive force and to those who incited illegal invasions of protected spaces despite repeated warnings. The rule of law must be impartial and unyielding.

Yet there have been signs of progress. The government, once accused of ignoring public input, has changed tack. This year, multiple stakeholders, including Gen Z representatives, were engaged in shaping the Finance Bill. Mbadi even visited Bunge la Wananchi, an informal grassroots forum, to debate and educate on the Bill’s contents. Parliament responded to citizen concerns, striking out controversial clauses.

Gen Z is acutely aware of social injustice and unafraid to challenge authority. Their passion is commendable. But it must be guided by principle. We must not forget how, a few years ago, Gen Z-led school unrest resulted in the burning of dormitories-an early sign of protest without restraint.

Kenya is a constitutional democracy. Change must come through lawful means and not through disruption, violence or populist calls for regime change without credible legal alternatives. Endless demonstrations, even peaceful ones, can harm the economy and undercut the very causes protesters claim to support.

“Ruto must go” may make for a viral chant, but without legal or electoral grounding, it represents not reform, but the erosion of the constitutional order. Disgruntled elements within the ranks of the nation’s political elite may attempt to push the youth to lawlessness; to ride the resultant tide of public disaffection to political power. Gen Z must resist the lure of performative wokeism and unmoored liberalism. Their energy, creativity and digital savvy are national assets-but only if wielded responsibly within the framework of the law.

Mr Khafafa is a public policy analyst