For a very long time in Kenya, young people like me have been considered apolitical. However, Gen Z’s and Millennials have started to show interest in politics and policy. During the last presidential election in 2022, most young people opted not to vote when faced with what they saw as a choice between two evils. Fast forward, we have started to face the consequences of our choices. When the current government introduced the 2024 Finance Bill, which introduced taxes on basic commodities, it sparked a public debate and criticism over its potential impact on the cost of living. Young people concluded that the political class do not have our interests at heart. Had they even thought about our concerns? This sense of exclusion and neglect resulted in an uprising that led to the first ever “occupation” of the Kenyan parliament by citizens. As a young photographer, I was there to document and witness the start of a revolution that I am proud to be part of.
My image of a young Kenyan kneeling down in the Central Business District during the protest while holding the Kenyan flag got some attention and landed me the opportunity to travel to Brussels to show my photos at the International Day for Democracy (IDD) conference. The events that I witnessed during the protests, such as police using teargas and recklessly shooting at young people, showed a lack of care for young lives by both the forces who should protect us and a government that had democratically defined itself as “for the people, by the people.” And all because we demanded accountability. I remember asking one anti-riot policeman: “, Do you not care about the future of your kids?” He replied, “Nyinyi Gen Z Mnasumbua (“You Gen Z’s are a nuisance.”)
My work as a documentary photographer and a social justice artist has always been to capture what I see and hear and present this to concerned and expert citizens. As a translator and a citizen expert, I believe that the current wave of democratic urgency has to be met with collaboration that builds intergenerational trust. In this pro-democracy space, who is listening to young (African) voices? This was the first thought I had when I walked into the European Union premises, on the second day of the IDD conference in Brussels.
As we all observe what is going on in different parts of the world, there needs to be space for building understanding across different generations. Political advocacy has almost always exclusively focused on outreach to opinion leaders and influential actors, while ignoring the generation often referred to as future leaders – but who lack representation.
My experience of this important day for democracy in Europe was a reflective moment for me. To sit and listen to people who share the same concern for human rights, social justice and equality was not only a privilege but a challenge: I realised that I must always question and stay curious about my role as a young African, and communicate that the fight for good governance and a citizen-centered democracy should be the number one priority in Africa, Europe and across the world.
IDD included an all-embracing celebration of democracy that gave me hope and reminded me that we are all facing similar, if not the same, struggle for liberation. However, the people affected most by democracy are not well represented and it has long been like this when dealing both with our local governments and in international spaces. Is this because the people entrusted with democratic development are not fully playing their part and accepting half-truths instead of digging into why all this is happening?
My concern is not to question the role of democracy support but to show why it must be done properly. If inclusivity really matters, we must care HOW the story of democracy gets told. We should not invalidate young people or anyone’s lived experiences. As young people become more aware of their roles – and the risks involved – we need to make sure that policy-making and political language become more digestible, accessible and understandable. For me the real concern is this: Are we getting incomplete answers to questions about our democratic future by valuing democratic processes that undermine citizen ownership, rather than build it up? I hope my creative work inspires real involvement of young people in politics, as it is our lives and futures on the line.
More about the author Jeremiah Onyango
Jeremiah is a documentary photographer and social justice artist born and raised in Kibra, a vibrant community on the outskirts of Nairobi. With an unwavering passion for visual storytelling, he has dedicated his life to capturing the essence of surroundings through the lenses of his camera.
His journey is inspired by the daily life stories that unfold around him in Kibra. Jeremiah finds myself drawn to the resilience, hope and dreams that fuels the existence of his fellow residents. Through Jeremiah’s photographs, he strive to chronicle our everyday lives, shedding light on the unique character of my community.
