#OccupyParliament: Inside the protest where Kenya's Gen Z brought some sparkle and swag

Despite an earlier warning from the Nairobi Region Police Commander Adamson Bungei, who flatly stated that the gatherings were outlawed, protesters still made their way into town, intent on fulfilling their mission and sending a message to State House.

The Tuesday protest was not an event that had been planned for long - it was quickly cobbled by dissatisfied Kenyan social media users and, in a matter of days, the conversation had already gathered steam and the movement was born.

It was a protest of urgency, a dissent of momentousness.

At the heart of the movement was Gen Z, a generation of young Kenyans who have refused to be passive online complainers and instead, become active thorns in the flesh of an increasingly repressive government.

Gen Zers, masterful users of social media and dexterous mobilizers, used their time and energies wisely, widely pushing the 'Occupy Parliament' narrative, sharing and printing posters, deciding the dress code and dishing out any necessary information as D-Day drew closer.

On TikTok, where they reign supreme, these young Kenyans, for once, ditched their frivolous dance challenges and comic skits to focus their energies on a more pressing matter - the Finance Bill 2024.

Like every other Kenyan, the contents of the Bill were too much even for them and this was the perfect opportunity for the youngsters to rise up for their country and perform a noble exercise that even they, perhaps, didn't know they could.

Tuesday morning, the groupings started. From Kenya Archives to Nation Centre, they poured into the streets, dressed in all black, bringing along masks, water bottles, oversized sunglasses and their trendy hairstyles.

Unlike on a regular day on campus, these kids knew the risks ahead - and they had prepared adequately for the showdown of their lifetime.

The most impressive of it all was the significantly huge number of young women who came out in their droves - one by one, they appeared, dressed down but with earnest and unflinching tenacity.

Some rolled into town in their Brazilian wigs, some brought along lip gloss, some threw on a tiny designer sling bag and some still came out in their Cardi B-esque nail extensions.

Because this is Gen Z, everything about them had to have some sparkle and flair. They could not afford to be caught dead in boring t-shirts, or bland banners or even ugly water bottles.

Everything, from the placards to the messaging, reflected the aura and air of a disappointed but yet, chic protester.

One placard read: "The only thing Ruto should raise is his children."

Another read: "You forgot to tax the voices in my head."

Gen Zers overwhelming participation, especially that of the comely Instagram starlets, didn't fail to catch the attention of Kenyans online.

"Hii protest imejaa baddies! Kujeni mjinyakulie mabibi!" someone hilariously noted.

Looking at them traversing the seedy Nairobi backstreets, in their delicate accents, intricate tattoos and hoop earrings, one could clearly tell that these women did not belong here - but the calling far superseded the aesthetics.

And even when slapped with teargas, these Gen Zers treated the occasion with glee, with some making fun of the affair, comparing it to shisha smoke... and it's flavors.

One protester asked, "Hii teargas yao hakuna orange mint?" while another commented, "Hii vape ya makarao ina choke!"

In reaction, social commentator Gabriel Oguda wrote, "David Ndii made fun of Gen Z, calling them online wankers. Today, they reached out for their tennis rackets, informed their coaches that they will be absconding training today to answer to Gov't arrogance and hubris. From today onwards, things will never be the same again!"

An impressed Pauline Njoroge also noted the unbreakable valour of the Gen Zers, saying, "They are not just brave, they are also very cool and well-spoken." 

"Today’s youth-led protest has been most peaceful yet very successful. And the government will not have the usual excuse of so and so is sponsoring maandamanos."

Even Senator Ledama Olekina was equally impressed, simply tweeting, "Mad respect for Generation Z!" 

To better understand Gen Z’s role in shaping our future, United Way of the National Capital Area surveyed 1,000 Americans, focusing on Gen Z’s engagement with social issues.

They asked questions about their (Gen Z) motivations for activism and the impact of these causes on their career choices.

The results showed that nearly one-third of Gen Zers (32%) were regularly engaged in activism or social justice work (compared to 24% of millennials), demonstrating a significant Gen Z commitment to societal change. 

This engagement deepened among college students, where the percentage escalated to nearly 40%.

And in the realm of public demonstrations, over half of Gen Zers (51%) had participated in rallies or protests to support specific causes or social issues.

And on a day when Kenyan members of Parliament would gather to vote on a controversial Bill, one thing definitely happened - Kenyan Gen Zers saved the day. And they did it all so gloriously.