Why Kenyan youth are tired of political gaslighting

Youthful protesters along Kenyatta Avenue, during the first anniversary of Gen Z deaths on June 25, 2025. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

If you ask a random youth in Mathare how the government treats us, they’ll tell you we feel, at best, paternalised and condescended, and at worst, patronised and disregarded.

Senior government officials have branded us disrespectful. Our peers advocating good governance have faced abduction and trumped-up charges of terrorism. Last week, addressing youth discontent in Machakos, the President blamed parents of poor parenting.