Let third liberation be about restoring integrity and accountable leadership

A police officer towers over coffins left behind by protesting Gen Z along Moi Avenue in Nairobi on June 2, 2024. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

In crisis, a nation can easily twist sharply or even meander towards constitutionalism, authoritarianism or anarchy.

While the dissolution of President Ruto's cabinet plunged the Kenya state into further uncertainty, the mood of the population remains surprising calm and, in several quarters, triumphant.

What began as a tax revolt has turned into an accountability movement rooted in Article 1. Under public pressure, the Presidency has rejected the 2024 Taxation Bill, suspended appointments of CASs, halved the number of Cabinet advisors, defunded offices of the first and second ladies, and spouse of the prime cabinet secretary before dissolving his entire Cabinet on Wednesday.

Kenya Kwanza came to power with a narrow mandate of less than 300,000 votes more than their rivals. Three million eligible Gen Z on the other hand, chose not to cast their ballots. They were neither interested in bribes for votes, inspired by the candidates or confident of the electoral process.