The Gen Z revolution in Kenya is more tha. just protests iMAGE COURTESY

In an unflinching new documentary titled “Bloody Parliament,” the BBC examines one of Kenya’s most seismic political moments: the 2024 Gen Z-led protests against the controversial Finance Bill.

The documentary sheds light on how a generation long perceived as apolitical and disengaged shattered stereotypes, stormed the nation’s Parliament, and reshaped Kenya’s democratic narrative.

A Nation at Boiling Point

The seeds of the 2024 protests were sown in June when the government proposed a Finance Bill laden with steep tax increases on everyday essentials — including a 16% VAT on bread and elevated fuel levies. For a country grappling with rising youth unemployment and economic inequality, the bill represented more than fiscal policy; it symbolized a profound disconnect between leaders and citizens.

BBC’s Bloody Parliament captures this tension vividly, chronicling how discontent simmered online before erupting into the streets. Social media platforms such as TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram became virtual battlegrounds where young Kenyans mobilized under hashtags like #OccupyParliament and #RejectFinanceBill2024.

The Digital Generation Awakens

What sets the 2024 protests apart — and what Bloody Parliament highlights with remarkable clarity — is the sophistication of digital organizing. Protesters used live-streaming apps for offline coordination. Legal aid, first aid locations, and safe routes were disseminated across networks at lightning speed.

Rather than waiting for traditional political leaders to speak for them, Kenya’s youth seized agency. The documentary interviews several youthful organizers who stress that their movement was “leaderless but not directionless” — a decentralized but determined push for accountability.

June 25: The Day Parliament Fell

The heart of Bloody Parliament lies in its harrowing portrayal of June 25, 2024 — the day protesters breached Kenya’s Parliament buildings. What began as a peaceful demonstration turned chaotic after police deployed tear gas and live bullets. In the ensuing mayhem, protesters stormed the legislative complex, vandalized offices, and symbolically stole the ceremonial mace — the heart of parliamentary authority.

Drone footage and eyewitness testimonies in the documentary paint a grim picture: smoke billowing from Parliament’s windows, injured protesters being carried away, and the streets of Nairobi awash with tear gas and blood.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights later reported at least 61 deaths countrywide, with hundreds more injured. It was the deadliest political protest Kenya had seen since the 2007 post-election violence.

State Crackdown and the Brutal Response

Beyond the tragic fatalities, Bloody Parliament exposes the grim reality of police brutality during the protests. Human rights monitors documented numerous instances where law enforcement used excessive and indiscriminate force against peaceful demonstrators, medics, and journalists.

Cases of abductions, torture, and enforced disappearances emerged, painting a chilling picture of a state apparatus willing to silence dissent at all costs. The documentary features raw, emotional testimonies from survivors who recount being beaten, shot at close range, and unlawfully detained — a stark reminder of the heavy price paid for demanding accountability in Kenya.

A Generation Beyond Tribal Lines

Perhaps the most powerful insight from Bloody Parliament is how Kenya’s Gen Z transcended the ethnic divisions that have historically defined the country’s politics. Young Kenyans of all tribes and socioeconomic backgrounds stood shoulder to shoulder, united by a common cause: demanding a government that listens and serves.

One protester interviewed by the BBC put it succinctly:
“We are not our fathers’ generation. We are not Kikuyu or Luo today — we are hungry, we are jobless, and we are tired.”

This new civic identity — urban, tech-savvy, and ethnically inclusive — marks a profound shift in Kenya’s political culture.

Fallout and Reflection

In the immediate aftermath, President William Ruto withdrew the Finance Bill, acknowledging the public’s outrage. However, the government’s heavy-handed response to protesters, including reports of abductions and police brutality, has drawn sharp criticism from local and international human rights organizations.

The BBC documentary does not shy away from examining these darker aspects. It challenges viewers to consider the cost of civic dissent in a democracy still grappling with entrenched authoritarian reflexes.

A Reckoning and a Rebirth

“Bloody Parliament” is more than a chronicle of protest; it is a portrait of a generational reckoning. It shows that Kenya’s Gen Z is not waiting in the wings for change — they are forcing it onto the national stage, even at great personal risk.

As Kenya moves forward, the events of 2024 and the voices captured in this documentary will likely echo for decades. In a country where political awakening has often been marred by violence and division, the Gen Z protests signal a new — if tumultuous — chapter of citizen power.

“They tried to silence us,” one young activist says at the close of the film, “but now they have to listen.”