Inside state’s plans to tame youth demos

***President William Ruto prepares for the State of the Nation Address / PCS***

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President William Ruto’s administration has developed a multi-pronged strategy to manage and contain demonstrations months after youthful protest pushed the country to the edge.

The strategy combines technological surveillance, legal reforms and socio-economic initiatives.

According to the latest State of National Security report, the steps are aimed at addressing the root causes of public discontent.

The plan contained in President William Ruto's 2025 report to Parliament follows what the report describes as "the highest number of protests and riots in over three decades".

It is emerging there were more than 2,000 demonstration events recorded in 2024 alone.

The report particularly notes that July alone saw more than 250 demonstrations, deemed the highest monthly count in recent history.

The government is mulling a significant technological upgrade as the core of the new approach to containing civil strife.

Part of the plans is to establish "a dedicated digital intelligence unit" to monitor and counter protest organisations online.

Gen Z demos, as the protests came to be known, were largely mobilised online through social media spaces.

The report acknowledges that "the exploitation of social and mainstream media played a significant role in mobilising demonstrators”.

“The exploitation of social and mainstream media played a significant role in mobilising demonstrators, co-ordinating protests as well as propagating misinformation, propaganda, disinformation and hate speech,” the report reads.

In response, the Kenya Kwanza administration says it is keen to develop ‘legal frameworks for digital policing’.

In the works is to “enhance the capacity of relevant bodies to deploy modern surveillance and intelligence technologies for early identification, monitoring and assessment of security threats."

In a change of mode of operation, Ruto announced the introduction of "suburb-level patrols" and "rapid response protocols" for dealing with protests.

During the recent demonstrations, the government deployed rapid tactical teams and aerial surveillance for crowd control.

“The approach will be institutionalised going forward,” according to the dossier tabled in Parliament during the State of the Nation Address.

The government is also pursuing significant legal reforms that will impact protest management.

The report shows that preparation of the Public Order Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is underway.

“It is still under consultations between the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, National Police Service and the Office of the Attorney General,” the report read.

In a notable shift, Kenya Kwanza has committed to "promote human rights-based and de-escalation-focused training for all security personnel”.

It also points to a bid for the security apparatus to “adopt non-lethal crowd control tools and reduce overreliance on the use of force."

The report documented significant casualties during recent protests, detailing deaths of 42 civilians and 496 police injuries during the Saba Saba and Gen Z demonstrations.

More than 250 vehicles were destroyed, 12 police stations were attacked, six firearms stolen, 18 supermarkets looted and 16 government offices were destroyed.

Beyond security and economic measures, the administration is pursuing political solutions.

The report states the government intends to "continue to promote dialogue to address underlying public grievances".

Ruto also pointed to the ‘political inclusivity in government’ through the broad-based arrangement as among the strategies that his team has employed.

The report also cites the commissioning of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, indicating a recognition of the need to address past grievances.

For the President, economic frustration fuels much of the protest energy. As such, the administration is scaling up youth-focused programmes.

The report specifically mentions strengthening "socio-economic empowerment programmes targeting the youth, such as Climate Worx, Kazi Majuu and job opportunities availed through the Affordable Housing programme".

The Affordable Housing Programme is positioned as a key solution, having already provided "244,000 direct and indirect jobs" during the review period.

According to the disclosures, the Climate Worx initiative has recruited 25,000 young people, with plans to enlist over 100,000 nationwide.

The Hustler Fund, described as reaching "over 26 million customers" between July 2024 and June 2025, is yet another pillar of the economic approach to reducing protest participation.

The report acknowledges ongoing challenges, including "continued exploitation of rights enshrined in the constitution to agitate for frequent protests".

It also cites increased youth vulnerability owing to high unemployment rates.