Anini Barasa: Meet 19-year-old Gen Z protester who told Raila to stay home in viral video

Anita Barasa, popularly known as Anini, took Kenya’s social media by storm after she posted a now viral TikTok video telling opposition leader Raila Odinga to stay away from the protests, and that she and her generation will now take over and carry on with his legacy of fighting for the good of the country.

Anini’s viral video was taken on Tuesday this week, the first day of the ongoing protests against the contentious Finance Bill, 2024 which they say will only serve to overburden an already overtaxed population.

In the video, the 19-year-old rising political activist told the former Prime Minister that; “Agwambo, please stay at home; we saw your efforts, we saw everything you did for Kenya. We miss you but, Agwambo, don’t even come outside.”

Speaking exclusively to Citizen Digital on Thursday, Anini stated that she was motivated by what she termed as Mr. Odinga’s selflessness in his consistent fight for the good of the nation over the years.

“What prompted me to make that video was because growing up I saw what he did for everyone, and I think everyone can attest that he’s been on the streets protesting. Now I’m on the ground and I have the same spirit and the same voice he has,” she said.

“I took it upon myself to be like, you know what, let him stay because he’s turning 80. There is no way we are going to make an elderly man skip a whole generation to attend protests.”

The Film and Technology student went on to express her shock at how viral the video went, reaching even Mr. Odinga himself who said he is “a proud father” for paving the way for Anita and the Generation Z that took to the streets in protest for their well-being.

According to her, the reception the video received was baffling, terming it as just one of her many content creation exploits.

“I thought I was just yapping on the internet so all this came to me as a surprise,” she said.

Anini further stated that her fuel for activism stemmed from an early age, adding that she has always been pro-people, as opposed to pro-government, especially one that oppresses its citizens.

She added that she has received great support from her parents and family, noting; “How I was raised, everything about me is activism, and I am ready to fight.”

Anini also lauded her fellow Generation Z, who have fuelled the protests with great energy, for their bravery and strength saying it was what has kept her going.

She concluded by urging the rest of her generation who are still watching from the sidelines to come out and protest as it is their constitutional right.