Some of the Gen Zs during the protests in June 2024/FILEThe protests, dubbed “occupy parliament," were coordinated and mobilized on social media by mostly the youths, who are popularly known as the Genzs.
The protests were spearheaded by mostly the youths, in contrast to those led by politicians.
Some of the youthful faces that shaped these protests include activists Bonface Mwangi, Kasmuel McOure, Hanifa Adani Farsafi, Anini Barasa, Rex Maasai, and Shakira Wafula.
Boniface Mwangi is a Kenyan photojournalist, politician, and activist involved in social and political activism.
He is known for his images of the post-election violence that hit Kenya in 2007 and 2008.
Mwangi was one of the courageous youths who were at the forefront during the Gen Z antigovernment protest.
He mobilised youths and encouraged them to come out in large numbers in order to fight for their rights. He did this through his social media platforms, and most importantly, he was on the ground with his fellow youths to protest against the finance bill 2024.
Kasmuel McOure is a multifaceted individual known for his dynamic roles as an artist, activist, griot, and revolutionary. His unique blend of creativity and advocacy has made him a prominent figure in Kenya’s social justice scene.
His sharp suits and powerful speeches set him apart.
His tweets and photos from these protests quickly gained traction online, cementing his reputation as an influential activist.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including a brief abduction, Kasmuel remained steadfast in his efforts to speak out and inspire change.
Hanifa Farsafi Adani is an influencer primarily on the social media platform X, an activist, and a social commentator.
In her posts, she provided details on the time and location for the protests, urging citizens to march to the parliament buildings to ensure that Members of Parliament do not pass the controversial bill.
Another person also at the forefront of the protests was Anini Barasa, a 19-year-old activist who had courage to tell the opposition leader Raila Odinga to stay at home and bother himself about Kenya.
She took Kenya’s social media by storm after she posted a 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.
Shakira Wafula is also among those faces that shaped the Gen Z protests. She is the lady who confronted a police officer during the anti-tax protests.
Shakira became a household name after a video of her confronting an officer during the Gen Z Finance Bill protests surfaced.
In videos circulated online, she was heard telling police officers, "I'm here for Kenyans; I'm here for my people; I'm here for your rights. Nitoe!! Nitoe baba! Sitoki!" she instructed the officer, who appeared frustrated.
The protets came at a cost as a number of youths died from alleged shootings. One such youth who united the country was Rex Masai.
Masai was shot dead during the anti-fnance Bill protest in Nairobi on June 20, 2024, the mother said she was informed of his son's shooting by his friends.
Currently, a case is ongoing in court to unravel the details behind Masai's shooting, a police officer on Wednesday denied any involvement in the fatal shooting of Masai during the June protests.
