Gen Z protests leave the nation bleeding

Kenya still bears the scars of a Nation wounded by the events that unfolded in June 2024.

What started as a peaceful protest led by the youth against the Finance Bill quickly escalated into a month of violence, disappearances, and shattered promises, forcing a generation to confront the price of standing up for what they believe in.

Despite the silence that now fills the streets, the echoes of last year's turmoil linger. 

The young people of Kenya, armed not with weapons but with signs, bravery, and with courage, took to the streets demanding transparency, accountability, and the right to have their voices heard. 

Instead of dialogue, they were met with tear gas, bullets, and silence from those in power.

The loss of this struggle is not just numbers but individuals with names, faces, and dreams. University students, boda boda riders, unemployed graduates, and even school children paid the price for daring to dream of a better future for their country.

The grief and anger felt by the families and friends of the fallen are real. Memorials are held, candles are lit to those who lost their lives in the fight for justice.

Calls for accountability have been made by human rights organizations and civil society groups, but the government's response has been inadequate. Investigations have been promised, but those responsible for the violence remain protected from consequences.

Despite the broken promises and bitter truths that have emerged from the events of last year, the spirit of resistance lives on. 

Paintings honoring the fallen have started to appear in urban areas, symbolizing a transformation from mourning to a movement for change.

A new generation of leaders is rising, more organized, resilient, and determined than ever before. The wounds of June may still be fresh, but they serve as a reminder that a new Kenya, born from the struggles of its youth, is still possible.