In October 2020, former president Uhuru Kenyatta, while receiving the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report at the Bomas of Kenya, warned that the country needs to look at the interests of the youth.
According to Uhuru, hundreds of thousands of youth join the job market every year, but there are no adequate opportunities, meaning thousands are just idle, which is dangerous for the country.
He equated the youth to a time bomb and warned that if they were not handled carefully, they could cause trouble in the country.
"Another big problem we have is our young people. We have a youth bulge that, if not properly handled, can be a time bomb that can blow this country to pieces. And the handling of that has to be done extremely carefully," he said.
He cautioned that the youth could not be managed through incitement or issuing handouts but instead noted that they needed to be engaged in constructive and meaningful development activities.
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Four years later, his prediction came to pass as the youth rallied together and opposed the controversial 2024 Finance Bill in what is commonly known as the Gen Z protest.
In June, July, and parts of August 2024, the youth brought Nairobi and other towns in the country to a standstill every Tuesday and Thursday as they protested against the government.
The climax of the protests was on 25 June 2024, when a section of the youth marched towards and gained entry into the Parliament building, prompting Members of Parliament to flee.
The protests led to the withdrawal of the 2024 Finance Bill, the dismissal of the Cabinet, and the President joining an X space to listen to the issues affecting young people.
“Having reflected on the continuing conversation around the content of the Finance Bill 2024, and listening keenly to the people of Kenya, who have said loudly they don’t want anything to do with this Finance Bill 2024.
"I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 Finance Bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn and I have agreed with these members that this becomes our collective position,” Ruto announced while withdrawing the Finance Bill.
The youth changed the way protests have been conducted in the country, as their demonstrations were largely peaceful and had a clear agenda.
Kenyatta also warned the Mt Kenya region in the run-up to the 2022 general election, warning that they would remember him one day.
“You people from Mt Kenya region, if you elect Ruto, you will cry one day," Uhuru said while speaking in his native Kikuyu language on 2nd August 2022.
One of the leaders who hurled insults at Kenyatta during the campaign period, Rigathi Gachagua has since been impeached and replaced by Kithure Kindiki as the Deputy President.
There is a feeling of 'betrayal' in the Mt Kenya region with a section of people from Mt Kenya rekindling traditional Kikuyu songs which have gone viral on social media.
