Kenyan Youth Use Social Media to Criticize Lawmakers’ Opulent Lifestyles

Kenya’s youth are incensed by the extravagant lifestyles of lawmakers showcased on social media amidst proposed tax hikes. Protests have erupted regarding the high salaries, privileges, and ostentatious displays of MPs, many of whom are young and face limited job opportunities. The demonstrations, starting on June 25 with the storming and arson of parliament, have extended to targeting MPs’ homes and businesses.

Social media platforms like TikTok have become tools of protest, with edited videos of politicians garnering criticism. Allegations of financial mismanagement and strategizing for the youth movement abound online. Activists are advising on leveraging recall powers to remove representatives and have created an AI chatbot exposing corruption allegations tied to politicians.

Ruling party MP Zaheer Jhanda faced backlash for flaunting luxury vehicles on TikTok, sparking public outrage. President William Ruto’s cabinet overhaul aims to establish a more inclusive government structure, excluding only the foreign minister from this restructuring.

Dubbed the “awakening of Gen Z,” the protests signal a demand for increased accountability since Ruto’s assumption of office in 2022. Kenya’s corruption ranking slid to 126 out of 180 countries in the 2023 Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International.

Lawmakers, earning significantly above the national average, face the threat of recall, requiring 30% of registered voters’ signatures for action. Various constituencies, such as Kabete, have initiated recall processes against their MPs, citing concerns over high salaries, corruption, and misuse of funds like the Constituency Development Funds (CDF).

MPs receive substantial salaries and CDF allocations, with reports of inefficient spending and embezzlement. Ongoing scrutiny by the Auditor-General and the media highlights unaccounted for funds and mismanagement within the CDF scheme.