Two years after the protests against tax hikes, young Kenyans remain trapped between unemployment and a cost of living that offers no respite. The movement, born on social media, denounces police brutality and the absence of real change. For citizens, the struggle for a more just government and dignified economic conditions continues, with no signs of a short-term solution.
Social media as a driver of protest and citizen surveillance 📱
Digital organization has been key to coordinating marches and spreading complaints in real time. Young people use encrypted messaging apps and platforms like X to bypass censorship and document abuses. However, the government has intensified digital surveillance, employing geolocation tools and data analysis to identify organizers. The technological gap remains an obstacle: not everyone has stable internet access, which limits participation.
The technology that promised jobs and only brought memes 😅
While young people are still waiting for that tech job they were promised, the reality is that many survive by making viral videos about how expensive bread is. Local digital incubators produce more protest tweets than profitable startups. Sure, at least now they can complain with better video quality and a catchier hashtag. The digital revolution advances, but the minimum wage does not.