The #rejectfinancebill 2024 Social Movement: The Rise of a Youth-Led and Digital Maandamano in Kenya
Responding to the emergence of the #rejectfinancebill2024 social movement in Kenya, Kenyan graduate students at Notre Dame have partnered with the Kroc Institute and various campus groups including Pamoja ND Africa Initiative, ND Global, ND East Africa Club, and the African Graduate Club to host a virtual panel, “The #rejectfinancebill2024 Social Movement: The Rise of a Youth-Led and Digital Maandamano (Protest) in Kenya”.
The panel was organized by Kroc PhD student Debora Rogo, Sr. Dr. Edelquine Shivachi, and Keough graduates Nancy Obonyo and Halkano Boru after identifying the need to provide historical context for the protests and to discuss the strategies used and challenges faced by the movement, drawing upon examples of other recent social movements that mobilize and engage support through digital technologies. Seeking to provide a broad-based and nuanced look at the movement, Rogo and other students drew together a panel of speakers to speak to the significance of the recent events in Kenya from a variety of perspectives.
The panel, which will be chaired by Rogo, includes the Honorable Willy Mutungua, former chief justice and president of the Supreme Court of Kenya (2011-16) and adjunct professor in public law at Kabarak University Law School; Kroc graduate, the Reverend Dr. Elias Opongo, director of the center for research, training and publications at Hekima University College and senior lecturer and former dean at Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations, along with Cyprian Nyamwamu, executive director of the Future of Kenya Foundation and Pan-African governance, gender, and leadership consultant and activist; Diana Gichengo, executive director for the Institute for Social Accountability and lawyer and human rights activist; Hussein Khalid, executive director of VOCAL Africa and lawyer and human rights activist; and Wanjira Wanjiru, co-founder of the Mathare Social Justice Center and a writer, researcher, and human rights consultant.
“We wanted to ensure we had a broad range of panelists, including members of the movement, as well as peacebuilders and representatives from civic and religious groups,” Rogo said. “The planning committee came up with the names and reached out relying on local, personal, and professional connections.”
The movement is fueled by widespread discontent over the proposed Finance Bill of 2024, and has harnessed the power of social media to mobilize and amplify voices across the country. As a youth-led and digitally-driven protest, this marks a significant shift in the nation’s civic engagement landscape. Young Kenyans, leveraging platforms such as TikTok, X, Facebook, and Instagram, have not only spread awareness but have also organized virtual and physical maandamano (protests), demanding transparency, accountability, and economic justice from the government. The digital nature of this movement has allowed for rapid dissemination of information, real-time updates, and a sense of unity among the youth, making it a formidable force in advocating for change. The movement underscores the pivotal role of digital activism in modern Kenya, highlighting the potential of tech-savvy youth to influence policy and drive societal transformation.
The panel discussion will take place via Zoom on Monday, August 12th, 2024 at 6pm East Africa Time (11am EST). All are welcome to attend.