I SPEAK UP, I DIE I STAY QUIET, I DIE'

As Kenya nears the one-year anniversary of the biggest Gen Z protest last year - when parliament was stormed - young Kenyans who led the demonstrations against the IMF-pushed Finance Bill continue to express their dissatisfaction with the system. While the protests had kicked off before 25 June 2024, that date was marked by a dramatic and tragic escalation. Police opened fire on the crowd, killing several protestors and injuring many others. The violent crackdown led to intensified calls for justice and accountability.

Young Kenyans remain determined to shape the future of their nation, while the government remains resolute in maintaining the status quo. Rather than offering accountability, Kenyans are witnessing further aggression towards those critical of the establishment. The recent killing of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang while in police custody has reignited the anger of young people across the country, fuelling renewed demands for transparency, justice and systemic reform.

In this clip, Kenyan poet, and 2024 Slam Queen, Scar (@scar_poetry on IG) delivers a powerful piece on what it means to live within a broken system that kills you anyway, whether through the bullet, taxes or a defunct healthcare system.

Video credit: @scar_poetry on Instagram