Why Kenya is an Unsettled Society

Kenya is standing on the precipice of revolution, its youthful energy bubbling like a volcano ready to erupt. As a nation, we are tired of watching the wheels of injustice grind us down. The status quo—corruption, tribalism, inequality—has overstayed its welcome. Change is not just a dream; it is a burning necessity, and like a force of nature, it cannot be stopped. 

Nothing in the universe comes from nothing. Kenya’s present turmoil is not random but the inevitable consequence of historical injustices. 

Kenya’s history of exploitation began with colonialism, where the imperialists expropriated land, resources, and labor from the indigenous population. The colonial state served as a tool for capital accumulation by foreign powers, creating a small elite class while dispossessing the majority. 

Colonialism introduced a brutal capitalist system that disrupted indigenous economies and governance structures. The imposition of the hut tax, forced labor, and the creation of settler plantations uprooted communities and entrenched inequality. For instance, the alienation of fertile land in the Rift Valley and Central Kenya for white settlers reduced many Kenyans to landless laborers. These actions were not just economic but political, aimed at entrenching the dominance of the colonial elite while disempowering the masses.

By the time of independence, the contradictions within this system were clear. The colonial structure had created a class of indigenous elites who had collaborated with the imperialists. This comprador bourgeoisie was positioned to inherit power, ensuring that the exploitative structures remained intact. The momentum of colonial exploitation carried forward, demonstrating that societal systems, like objects in motion, resist change without an external force.

At independence, Kenya’s working class and peasantry hoped for liberation. The Mau Mau rebellion had galvanized the masses, making independence synonymous with land reform, equality, and justice. However, the post-independence regime dashed these hopes. Rather than dismantling the colonial structures of exploitation, the new leaders entrenched them.

Jomo Kenyatta’s government adopted a capitalist development model, aligning with Western powers and prioritizing the interests of the elite. Land reforms were minimal, benefiting the political class rather than the landless majority. Public resources were privatized, and the state became a tool for capital accumulation by the bourgeoisie.

The governance structures inherited from colonialism were disordered and exploitative. Rather than introducing systemic reform, the post-independence regime allowed this disorder to grow, increasing societal entropy and deepening inequality.

Kenya’s capitalist system is deeply tied to international capital. Multinational corporations, international financial institutions, and foreign governments play a significant role in shaping the country’s economic policies. Structural adjustment programs (SAPs) imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in the 1980s and 1990s exacerbated poverty and inequality.

SAPs mandated austerity measures such as cuts to public spending, privatization of state-owned enterprises, and liberalization of trade. These policies dismantled social safety nets, reduced access to education and healthcare, and increased the cost of living. The burden of these policies fell disproportionately on the working class and peasantry, deepening their exploitation.

The continued reliance on foreign aid and loans has entrenched Kenya’s dependency on international capital. This dependency limits our country’s ability to pursue independent and progressive policies. It also exposes the contradictions of capitalism, where the global South is systematically exploited to sustain the wealth of the global North.

Capitalism in Kenya has perpetuated cycles of poverty and inequality. The economic policies adopted since independence have prioritized foreign investment and export-oriented growth at the expense of local development. Industries such as agriculture, mining, and tourism have been structured to benefit multinational corporations and the elite while leaving workers in precarious conditions.

Newton’s Third Law—for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction—explains the unrest stemming from these exploitative policies. The extraction of wealth and resources by the elite generates an opposing force: the resistance of the oppressed masses. For example, the flower farms in Naivasha, a key export sector, are notorious for exploiting workers. Low wages, poor working conditions, and environmental degradation characterize this industry. Similarly, the extraction of minerals in Kwale and Turkana has enriched foreign companies while displacing local communities and degrading their environment. These examples highlight the inherent contradictions of capitalism, where profit is prioritized over people and the environment, inevitably sparking resistance.

In urban areas, the rise of informal settlements such as Obunga, Kibera, Mukuru, Mathare among others reflects the failure of capitalism to provide decent housing and livelihoods. The proliferation of slums, coupled with the lack of basic services, underscores the exclusion of the working class from the benefits of economic growth. This exclusion has fueled anger and resistance, particularly among the youth, who bear the brunt of unemployment and underemployment.

The Kenyan state’s response to growing dissent has been characterized by repression and authoritarianism. Rogue police units, operating with impunity, have been at the forefront of suppressing dissident voices, especially on social media platforms. Abductions, extrajudicial killings, and threats have become common tools used to intimidate activists and silence criticism.

This systemic abuse of power underscores the role of the police as an instrument of class domination. Rather than serving the people, the police protect the interests of the ruling class by suppressing dissent and perpetuating fear. This repression mirrors the inertia of the capitalist state, which resists change and seeks to maintain its exploitative structures at all costs.

The ruling class—clinging to power—resorts to violence, abductions, threats, and intimidation to suppress dissent. The state, as an instrument of the bourgeoisie, seeks to maintain the status quo, resisting change with all its might. However, repression cannot erase the contradictions within the system. On the contrary, it intensifies them, making revolutionary change inevitable.

Rutoism, with its seductive "hustler nation" narrative, is the latest manifestation of political deception. It promises empowerment but delivers crumbs. It speaks of uplifting the masses but prioritizes neoliberal policies that entrench inequality. President William Ruto has mastered the art of populist rhetoric, but beneath the surface lies the same old capitalist machinery, designed to extract from the poor and feed the elite.

We see through the facade. We understand that true empowerment cannot come from policies that prioritize international investors over local farmers, workers, and entrepreneurs. The so-called "Bottom-Up Economic Model" is nothing more than a rebranding of failed capitalist ideologies. We reject this deceit and stand resolute in our demand for genuine transformation.

We the Kenya’s youth are a force to be reckoned with. Like energy in motion, we are unstoppable, driven by the momentum of our collective frustrations and dreams. We are not afraid to call out the injustices that plague our society—corruption, police brutality, unemployment, and environmental degradation. We are the voice of reason, the agents of change, and the custodians of hope.

Power concedes nothing without a demand. The state’s response to our courage has been repression. Rogue police units have unleashed terror on those who dare to dissent. Abductions, extrajudicial killings, and online harassment have become tools of suppression. But we are not afraid. We know that fear is the weapon of the oppressor, and courage is the shield of the oppressed. Every blow they strike against us only strengthens our resolve.

The laws of physics teach us that systems resist change, but resistance is futile in the face of overwhelming force. The momentum of Kenya’s youth is that force. Newton’s First Law tells us that an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an external force. Our revolution is in motion, and no amount of state violence can stop it.

Entropy, the measure of disorder in a system, also offers a powerful metaphor. Kenya’s governance structures are in a state of chaos, riddled with corruption and inefficiency. But entropy creates opportunities for new orders to emerge. The old must crumble to make way for the new. Change, like death, is inevitable. Those who cling to the past are merely delaying the future.

The state’s increasing reliance on violence is a sign of its weakness. Rogue police units, acting as enforcers for the ruling elite, have waged war on the people. Social media platforms, once vibrant spaces for dissent and organizing, are now under siege. Activists are abducted, silenced, or worse. The message is clear: speak out, and you become a target.

But we refuse to be silenced. We use these platforms to expose their brutality, to rally the masses, and to demand justice. Each act of repression only amplifies our cause. The police, meant to serve and protect, have become agents of fear and oppression. Yet, we are not intimidated. We see through their tactics and understand that their violence is born of desperation. They know their time is up.

Protesters use a Kenya Police anti-riot shield to protect themselves from tear gas canisters and rubber bullets amid clashes during demonstrations in downtown Nairobi, on July 2, 2024. 

Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images

Revolution is not just about tearing down the old; it is about building the new. We envision a Kenya where justice, equality, and dignity are not just aspirations but realities. We envision a nation where the wealth of the land benefits all its people, not just a privileged few. We envision a government that serves the people, not foreign interests or its own greed.

To achieve this, we must unite. The youth, the workers, the farmers —together, we are unstoppable. We must organize, educate, and mobilize. We must reject tribalism and embrace solidarity. We must demand accountability from those in power and refuse to settle for crumbs when the whole loaf is ours by right.

We draw our courage from the struggles of those who came before us, from the Mau Mau fighters to the unsung heroes of the June Gen Z Street protests. We know that the road ahead is fraught with challenges, but we also know that we are on the right side of history. Our cause is just, our determination unyielding, and our victory inevitable.

To the youth of Kenya, the future is ours to shape. Let us rise with courage and conviction. Let us reject the lies and deceptions of the ruling class. Let us build a movement that cannot be ignored, a force that cannot be stopped.

To the oppressors, your time is up. No amount of repression can hold back the tide of change. We the people of Kenya are awake, and we are coming for the justice that has been denied to us for too long.

To the world, watch as Kenya rises. Watch as we dismantle the old and build the new. Watch as we turn our pain into power, our despair into determination, and our dreams into reality.

Kenya is not just an unsettled society; it is a society on the brink of transformation. The revolution is here, and we are fearless in its pursuit. We will not rest until every Kenyan can stand tall in a land that values their worth. The time for change is now, and we are ready to lead it.