Whenever protests are witnessed in Nairobi, the demonstrators are always almost 90 per cent men and boys below the age of 35. Protests are now mostly in estates, where the youth are confined, because most are jobless or work low-wage jobs and they are at home and not in the centres.
Those in the centres mostly always are engaged in some kind of jobs, that’s why the protest dynamic has changed from being in major town CBDs to estates such as Kitengela, Mlolongo, Githurai, Kibera, to name but a few.
Picture a situation where there were reasons to protest, but all the youth were engaged in some kind of meaningful employment, with very decent salaries. They would definitely not be available to protest.
There would be a different kind of discourse on how to put the government in check, when ad hoc decisions like fuel hikes are made. There would be calm sit-ins as a way of protesting, no businesses would be burnt down, perhaps no businesses perhaps would have to close down and transport wouldn’t be paralysed.
Schools would still be open, safe access to public places would still be guaranteed. Granted, sometimes the government needs to increase prices in some crucial areas, but one thing for sure is the middle-to-upper-income citizens would almost never protest. Those who protest on their behalf are always those most affected by any hike in the cost of day-to-day life.
Kenya’s poverty headcount rate stands at about 39.8 per cent, meaning nearly four in every 10 Kenyans live below the national poverty line, with poverty measurements often adjusted using purchasing power parity to reflect the real cost of living.
This means that those on the streets anytime there are protests, such as those witnessed this week, mostly live below the poverty lineand a hike in fuel costs affects nearly all spheres of their lives, slightly more than how it would affect those who can afford the normal day-to-day basics and luxuries.
A recent report reveals that the Federation of Kenya Employers and the Kenya Labour Market Information System indicate the unemployment and underemployment rate for youth in this age 15- to 34 broader demographic hits as high as 67 per cent. This demographic is quite a majority that the government needs to empathise with when making economic decisions that affect Kenyans.
An empathetic government must go beyond policing protests and begin addressing the lived realities of the young people filling the streets. Many of these youth are not protesting because they enjoy unrest, but because they feel unheard, excluded and economically trapped.
A young person who wakes up daily without hope of employment, struggles to afford food and transport and sees little opportunity for upward mobility is more vulnerable to frustration and anger.
Empathy, therefore, requires leadership that listens before reacting and policies that prioritise dignity, inclusion and opportunity for the ordinary citizen.
An empathetic government would invest aggressively in labour-intensive industries, youth entrepreneurship, vocational training and affordable credit for small businesses in informal settlements and peri-urban areas. It would understand that beyond statistics, unemployment inflicts emotional and psychological pain, including hopelessness and social alienation. Creating meaningful work for young people is not only an economic solution, but also a peace and security strategy.
Equally important is honest and transparent communication with citizens during difficult economic periods, such as the current period. If taxes or fuel prices must increase, citizens are more likely to cooperate if they feel sacrifices are shared fairly across all social classes and if public resources are managed responsibly.
The youth also need to see visible efforts against corruption, wastage and inequality. Empathy also means creating spaces where youth voices are included in decision-making processes rather than only being engaged during elections or moments of crisis.
Ultimately, the ideal Kenyan society where young people feel valued, economically empowered and listened to is less likely to experience recurring unrest and the destruction of public and private property.
