In Kenya today, politics no longer feels like leadership, but more like the political survival of leaders who sound concerned and caring in speeches but fail in action. Looking back at the 2022 general elections, leaders campaigned on empathy and “HUSTLER” narratives, yet after taking office, the everyday realities of most Kenyans remain unchanged, or even worse than before.
The recent Gen Z-led protests tell a story of deepening disappointment with governance and unfulfilled promises. Kenyans marched in June and July 2025 to mark the anniversary of deadly demonstrations triggered first by proposed tax hikes and a punitive Finance Bill, and later by the death of blogger and teacher Albert Omondi Ojwang in police custody. Hundreds were injured, and at least eight people were killed. Officers sealed off government buildings and restricted media coverage, even as citizens chanted RutoMustGo.
This growing unrest confirms what ordinary Kenyans have felt for years:
A rising cost of living.
Inflation.
Job scarcity.
Digital loan dependence.
Stagnant wages.
When citizens point this out, they are often dismissed as being emotional or misinformed. But instead of meeting this frustration with change, too many leaders default to tribal politics. Criticism of governance has been reframed as ethnic antagonism.
The idea that leaders deserve a full two terms, no matter the performance, has also become toxic. In Kenya’s 10-year political rhythm, campaigning promises are recycled with little real consequence if they’re not kept. Democracy should be about review, accountability, and responsiveness, not entitlement to a decade in office based on fear of instability.
Meanwhile, in the absence of a unifying opposition figure following Raila Odinga’s exit from active opposition politics, Kenya’s opposition remains divided and uneven in its approach. This fragmentation has limited its ability to translate public dissatisfaction into clear policy alternatives.
Kenyan citizens are not asking for miracles. They are asking for honesty, accountability, and governance that listens rather than pacifies. Most Kenyans are wearing their frustrations openly because too often promises have been made without fulfillment.
Kenya now stands at a crossroads: whether ongoing protests and economic grievances will lead to substantive reform and inclusive leadership, or whether the familiar 'TUTAM' narrative, waiting for the next election, will once again delay accountability.
