Kenya in Focus: The Defiance of A People and Compliance of the State
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In June 2024, Kenya was racked by youth mobilizations referred to as the Gen-Z Movement protests in response to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) neo-liberal austerity measures enacted by the US-backed president William Ruto. The Ruto government, which also sent troops to Haiti at the behest of the US was granted the status of a major non-NATO ally (the first sub-saharan African nation to get the status) in gratitude for its posture as a vassal state. Today Kenya is gripped by a young population battling high cost of living, political repression, massive corruption, police brutality, poor leadership and governance, and massive unemployment. In June Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary stood before parliament and announced that the government will not consult its citizens on a plan to bring Ebola-exposed Americans into the country.
Kenya stands at a critical juncture, balancing a vibrant, young democracy against deep-seated challenges of governance, economic pressure, and security concerns. Kenyan youth are boldly organizing through digital activism, educating the public about the role of institutions like the IMF, resisting the takeover of conservation areas and public lands, mobilizing civic initiatives like “Niko Kadi,” and building independent digital platforms to safeguard elections, expose fraud, and demand transparency and accountability.
Join us for an in-depth panel discussion exploring Kenya's current political turbulence, including citizen-led resistance and the role of U.S. foreign policy. Kenyan activists from on the ground and in the diaspora will present on how Washington's security partnerships, economic interests, and interventions impact stability in Kenya and the broader East African region.
Speakers
- Valentine Githae, The 6.25 Movement
- Luca Amayo, The 6.25 Movement
- Dr. Milton Nyakundi, Kenyan journalist and activist
- Ashlyn Adhiambo, Working Committee of the Pan-Africanism Summit Against Imperialism - Nairobi
Moderator: Netfa Freeman, Pan-Africanist organizer and IPS Events Coordinator
This is a hybrid event with in-person or online options to attend. Please RSVP here.
Co-sponsored by the Institute for Policy Studies, The 6.25 Movement, Africa World Now Project, and the Black Alliance for Peace.