Why Eric Omondi Compares Gen Z Movement to Mau Mau Fighters

Kenyan comedian-cum-activist Eric Omondi, known for his audacious stunts and relentless advocacy, is now drawing striking parallels between Kenya’s current youth movement and the historic Mau Mau liberation struggle, while also boldly likening the present government to a force "worse than the white man's colonial rule".

Speaking to NTV Kenya’s morning show Fixing the Nation, Omondi, who describes himself as having been radicalized by witnessing the struggles of ordinary Kenyans across the country, now uses his significant social media influence (with 11 million followers) to amplify the voices of the voiceless and push for systemic change.

In a particularly provocative comparison, Omondi declares that there’s nothing new happening now because the current Gen Z movement replicates what the Mau Mau fighters were doing in the 1950s.

"What’s happening right now is exactly what happened in 1963. This is Mau Mau all over again. We are fighting for freedom. We are under oppression."

"There's a new generation rising. They're warming up. They're taking up arms online", Omondi added, clearly associating the current youth movement with a renewed fight for freedom akin to the Mau Mau.

He contrasts this new fight with the Mau Mau's armed struggle, suggesting that while the colonialists shot people with guns, the current oppressors are worse because they target vulnerable citizens.

"But these guys are worse because there the white man was shooting. The white man was shooting people with guns. These guys are shooting people who are selling masks. They are worse than the white man."

Despite his fierce criticism of the current administration, Omondi expresses a somewhat sympathetic view of President William Ruto's position. He states that President Ruto is "just unfortunate that he's seated on the seat when this is happening," emphasizing that the problem isn't Ruto himself, but the system that has been here since 1963.

"President Ruto will be or is the last of his generation and there’s nothing that it has nothing to do with anyone or anything. It is time. The sun is up. It’s time, that’s why it’s it has nothing to do with anything. We will have a new Kenya. There is going to be a new Kenya."

Omondi’s activism is not new. He recounted being alone at the parliament buildings eight times in 2023 and 2024, feeling overpowered by police.

He famously fought the finance bill alone in 2023, attracting ridicule and being labeled a "clout chaser".

Beyond protests, Omondi's initiative, Sisi Kwa Sisi, functions as a foundation or NGO, initially helping with rent and school fees, but now focusing on "dire" public interest cases where a person's life is at risk. His crowd-funding efforts have been highly successful, such as the "incredible" millions raised for Meshack, father to Albert Ojwang’.