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Why did Generation Z protesters in Kenya call for William Ruto to resign?
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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 protests in Kenya, led by the Generation Z cohort, began in June 2024 primarily in opposition to proposed tax increases and new taxes included in the government’s annual finance bill. While the government eventually dropped some of these proposals, the movement expanded into broader anti-government sentiment and calls for President William Ruto to resign.123
The protesters' dissatisfaction was driven by several factors:
- Economic Hardship: Many Kenyans struggled with a high cost of living, and the proposed tax increases were viewed as difficult to balance with their financial realities.2
- Unfulfilled Promises: Ruto had campaigned on a pledge to support the "hustlers" of Kenya, a promise many citizens felt he had not fulfilled.2
- Government Conduct: Resentment grew over the president's frequent international travel and the associated expenses.2
- Police Brutality: The government's response to the demonstrations—which included the use of water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and live fire—was widely criticized as excessive, leading to numerous deaths, injuries, and reports of abductions.123
These factors, combined with the passage of the finance bill despite public outcry, fueled the chants of "Ruto must go".13