On July 10, 2024, the digital landscape of Kenya was electrified by a compelling conversation on X Space featuring two influential figures: Miguna Miguna and Willy Mutunga. This dialogue, centred on the struggle for change in Kenya, resonated deeply with the youth, who are at the heart of the nation’s economic and socio-political challenges. However, the democratised online space did not disappoint in introducing a stock of polarising phraseologies and positions.
Miguna Miguna, known for his bold and unfiltered commentary, alongside Willy Mutunga, the former Chief Justice and a respected voice for justice and reform, engaged the youth in a candid discussion about the future of Kenya. The conversation took an intense turn when the phrase “aided suicide” was introduced. This term, which I posed during the discussion, became a focal point of contention. I could draw parallels to the Inaugural Pacific Skills Summit on Youth Skills and the Digital Age, where I spoke and acknowledged the high youth suicide rate prevalent in the Pacific Island States due to socioeconomic pressures and eventual despair.
Miguna vehemently discouraged the usage of “aided suicide” to describe the desperate actions of unemployed youth facing overwhelming socioeconomic pressures. He argued that such terminology could dangerously trivialise the dire circumstances of murderous police force and diminish the youth’s agency in their struggle for better conditions. However, other participants contended that the term accurately captured the harsh reality: many young people feel they have nothing to lose, even if it means risking their lives in confrontations with law enforcement. This stark perspective underscores the depth of despair and the urgency for systemic change. A recollection of Miguna’s assertion in 2018 that the youth indeed have staying power, despite popular opinion to the contrary at that time during a meeting in Berlin where he was a guest speaker, made for a welcome reference point and justification of his foresight.
Another critical term that surfaced during the discussion was “materialistic consequentialism.” This phrase, which I shared, encapsulates the widespread mindset among the political class in Kenya that amassing material wealth justifies any means, regardless of ethical considerations. This critique struck a chord, highlighting the pervasive issue of corruption and the moral decay within the political landscape.
Dr. Miguna and Dr. Mutunga emphasised the necessity of a value-driven and issue-based struggle. They argued that the youth must reject the normalisation of corrupt practices and demand accountability and integrity from their leaders. The conversation underscored the importance of reorienting the struggle towards principles of justice, equity, and transparency. The growing persuasion was that to be absolutely lethal to the rot in leadership, the staying power of the GenZ’s revolution must aim at the soft underbelly that characterises the normalised vice of the current political class, which is materialistic consequentialism. Caution was raised against the looming sectarianism, where older generations are told to keep off the mainstream of the current struggles just because they are not GenZs. A sober look establishes the fact that the GenZs are utilising the new advanced tech tools available to them in this dispensation, just as much as the older generations made use of the traditional and limited tools that were available to them at the time – making all generations co-owners of a shared struggle and uniting vision for brighter and sustainable futures. Suffice it to say, subsequent generations, Alpha and onwards, are poised to enjoy hitherto unimagined horizons of possibilities with the ongoing technological advances, the knowledge doubling curve, and the digital revolution.
The X Space event on July 10 was more than just a discussion; it was a rallying cry for the youth of Kenya to take an active role in shaping their future. Miguna Miguna and Willy Mutunga’s engagement provided both a sobering reflection on the current state and a hopeful vision for a more just and equitable Kenya. The dialogue reaffirmed the critical role of youth in driving change and the urgent need for a collective, principled stand against the entrenched culture of materialistic consequentialism in Kenyan politics.