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How did the Occupy Parliament movement begin in Kenya in 2024?

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Francisco Goya, Saturn — Generation Z protests In Greek and Roman myth the old god consumes his children to preserve his power. In many countries today the young face a version of the same fate: priced out of housing, burdened by debt, and taxed to sustain the pensions and property wealth of older generations.

The "Occupy Parliament" movement in Kenya began as a response to proposed tax increases and new taxes included in the government’s annual finance bill for 2024. As details of these tax changes were widely circulated via social media, various sectors of society expressed growing discontent.12

The movement was specifically planned as a sit-in at the Parliament building in Nairobi for June 18, 2024, the day legislators were scheduled to discuss the finance bill. The initiative was primarily driven by the Generation Z cohort, who emphasized a "leaderless" and people-led structure rather than relying on traditional political figures or notable leaders. By organizing and mobilizing through social media, these young protesters successfully turned out hundreds of participants on June 18, marking the start of a broader wave of unrest that eventually expanded into calls for President William Ruto to resign.12