The Price of Exclusion: What the Gen Z Revolt Taught Us About Governance

When Gen Z stood up against Kenya’s Finance Bill, it wasn’t just about taxes—it was about voice. About being seen. About governance that listens instead of lectures.

This wasn't just a protest; it was a referendum on how inclusive our governance really is.

For years, "public participation" has been more about procedure than substance. Notices posted in newspapers no one reads, meetings held in places many can't reach, and language that's anything but accessible. Yet, when a generation that grew up on memes and mobile money started questioning fiscal policy—seriously and strategically—the establishment was caught off guard.

And make no mistake: they came with facts, questions, and receipts. They came with fire. And they were right to.

Here are five key lessons the Finance Bill revolt taught us about inclusive governance:

1. Inclusion must be real, not ritual

Inviting public views without actually considering them is tokenism. If inclusive governance is to mean anything, it must create genuine pathways for influence—not just open forums for venting. You can’t ask people what they think, then go ahead and do the opposite with zero feedback or accountability. That’s not participation. That’s pageantry.

2. Digital is the new civic square

Gen Z organized, educated, and mobilized through Twitter (X), TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp. They explained the Finance Bill in plain language, created infographics, hosted X Spaces, and challenged policymakers to explain themselves.

This wasn’t “slacktivism.” This was 21st-century civic engagement—fast, furious, and effective. Policy actors must stop seeing online platforms as distractions. They're the new frontline for public participation.

Governance must go digital, or risk falling completely out of touch.

3. Transparency builds trust

The backlash wasn’t only about the content of the Finance Bill. It was about the way it was handled. The rushed process. The jargon-filled documents. The failure to explain clearly why certain proposals were being made and how they would benefit the public.

Lack of clarity breeds suspicion. Suspicion breeds outrage. And rightly so.

Policymakers must learn to communicate better—early, often, and in plain language. Transparency isn’t a bonus feature. It’s the foundation of trust.

4. Civic education is a game changer

If anything stood out during the revolt, it was how effectively Gen Z educated themselves—and others. They asked hard questions and simplified complex budget matters for thousands of followers online. That’s impressive.

Now imagine what could happen if our education system actually prioritized civic literacy. If young people left school understanding not just how government works—but how to work the system for the public good.

Civic education should not be reserved for lawyers, policy wonks, or elected officials. It should belong to everyone.

Exclusion has a cost!

The Finance Bill uproar wasn’t just a moment of youth frustration. It was a mirror held up to our systems, asking: Who are they really built for?

The answer, clearly, needs to change.

If Kenya is to move forward, we need governance that doesn’t fear its people's voices—but embraces them. Gen Z has shown us what’s possible when people are informed, connected, and unapologetically vocal.

People don’t just want to react to policy—they want to shape it.

And the message is loud and clear: if governance isn't inclusive, it isn't working.