Proponents of 'no country for old men' should have second thoughts

Youth during Gen Z protests in Nairobi. [File, Standard]

The Gen Z rebellion of last year was characterised by a torrent of criticism aimed at the older generation. Parents were castigated for having “dropped the ball”. The message was loud and clear: Gen Z would no longer tolerate the failures of their elders.

Yet recent events in the region underscore the strength of Kenya’s democratic fabric. Fundamental rights and liberties are enshrined in the Constitution, and where these are violated, Kenyans have meaningful recourse through independent courts — courts that routinely push back against Executive overreach, a rarity in the region.

Kenya remains arguably the only country in East Africa where both citizens and foreigners can move, work and express themselves freely without constant fear of State harassment. It is no surprise that Nairobi’s urban sprawl is populated with Tanzanians, Ugandans, Rwandans, Burundians, Sudanese, Ethiopians and Eritreans. These foreigners operate businesses, work in salons and barbershops and invest heavily in sectors like construction, particularly the Somali diaspora.

These everyday freedoms are things many Gen Z Kenyans take for granted. Yet beyond our borders, leadership in some countries has remained unchanged for the entire lifespan of Gen Z. In others, political opposition is a nominal concept with dissidents routinely jailed, maimed or worse, for acts that would be considered trivial in Kenya.

Just last week, a group of Kenyans flew to Tanzania to show solidarity with opposition leader Tundu Lissu who is facing treason charges. Only one was allowed to attend the trial. The rest were deported. One Kenyan and a Ugandan counterpart were detained without charge, allegedly tortured and later dumped at the border.

Deeper realisation

The lesson? It is an Orwellian reality- “all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.” Former Chief Justice David Maraga, former Justice Minister Martha Karua and activist Boniface Mwangi were all on the same mission to Tanzania. Maraga was allowed in, Karua was deported and Mwangi beaten and dumped in the bushes. President Samia Suluhu has since declared that she “will not allow any creatures to meddle in Tanzania’s internal affairs.”

This leads to a second, deeper realisation. Gen Z may believe theirs is “no country for old men” (and women), but events in Tanzania offer stern counterpoint. In many places, the Old Guard still wields power and expects to be approached with civility and decorum. Maraga, known for his measured tone, was granted access. Karua, forceful yet principled, was stopped. Mwangi, the unapologetic firebrand, suffered the worst fate. His past confrontations with authority figures may have preceded him and coloured his reception.

These events are a sobering reminder that not all nations operate with Kenya’s democratic openness. And while Kenya may have its flaws, it remains a beacon of freedom in a region where such liberties are scarce. Gen Z would do well to temper their disillusionment with perspective and to recognise the hard-won democratic space they now inherit.

It would also serve them well to realise that leadership must be earned meritoriously; not wrested from those they imagine are old men and women who have outlived their sell-by dates. Effective leadership can only be attained cerebrally and not through effete confrontations however popular they are.

Mr Khafafa is a public policy analyst