Beyond Politics, We Need a Socio-Economic Refabrication

In recent weeks, the streets of Kenya have echoed with a bold, youthful cry: “We are awake, and we will be heard.” The Gen Z-led protests are not just another wave of political noise. They represent something deeper—a fracture in the very foundation of our nation’s social contract.

The outcry we are witnessing is not simply about bad laws or questionable leadership decisions. It is about a generation pushed to the edge by a broken system—a system that no longer serves the people it was built for.

Let’s be clear:

This is not a moment that needs political solutions.
It is a crisis demanding the complete refabrication of our socio-economic systems.

The Symptoms of a Cracking Republic

We’ve seen the warning signs across multiple platforms—newspapers, social media, town hall conversations:

• Peaceful protests met with brutality: Young people demanding inclusion and accountability have been met with bullets, batons, and bloodshed. The daylight murder of protesters has sent a chilling message.

• Enforced disappearances and abductions: Real or perceived activists are being whisked away without due process—a state tactic we hoped was buried with the one-party era.

• Official threats: High-ranking government officials have normalized threats of violence against dissenters. Rule by fear is slowly replacing the rule of law.

• Joblessness and economic exclusion: With nearly 3 out of every 5 youth unemployed or underemployed, frustration is boiling over. They feel used, ignored, and discarded.

• Chaotic government programming: Drastic shifts in essential public programs like the university funding model, the Social Health Authority (SHA), and the abrupt move from IFMIS to EGP in procurement have added confusion and instability.

These are not isolated issues. They are symptoms of a system that is no longer fit for purpose.

Politicians Are Playing Chess While the House Burns

Instead of rising to the occasion, both government and opposition politicians have defaulted to their most familiar script: divisiveness and misrepresentation. Opportunistic rhetoric is now being weaponized to split the citizen voice and distort the people’s struggle.

While citizens demand dignity, inclusion, and reform, the political class is playing dangerous games—fueling tribal tensions, co-opting youth movements, and turning the nation’s pain into talking points.

It’s not about them anymore.

The Path Forward: From Protest to Refabrication

This is not the time to “fix the politics.” We must unfix the very systems that allow political class dominance, economic exclusion, and institutionalized oppression to thrive. What Kenya needs is not reform. We need:

• A new social contract—where every Kenyan has equal stake, voice, and opportunity.

• Inclusive economic models—that prioritize youth enterprise, local innovation, and cooperative development.

• Transparent institutions—built on accountability, not allegiance.

• People-first governance—driven by service, not self-preservation.

Kenya is at the brink—not just of political crisis, but of socio-economic collapse if we fail to act. The voices rising in protest are not the problem. They are the alarm bells. Let’s not silence them. Let’s listen. Let’s build.

Because the future of this country will not be found in parliament halls or party boardrooms—it's in the streets, in the minds of our youth, and in the soul of a nation ready for rebirth.