When Kenya's Gen Z took to the streets of Nairobi, they expected the government to listen to them. Instead, police responded with tear gas, water cannons and live ammunition, resulting in the deaths of 39 protesters.
The initial outrage was sparked by a law known as the Finance Bill 2024, which sought to increase taxes on several basic commodities. Many Kenyans say daily life is already unaffordable. The perception was that the government was forcing young people and the poor to bear the brunt of the country's debt crisis, after years of financial mismanagement and spending that only benefits those in power.
Activist Boniface Mwangi was among the protesters when gunshots rang out and the scale of the crackdown by security forces became clear. Mwangi’s online nickname is the “People’s Watchman” because he fights to obtain justice for people whose plight would otherwise be ignored. Now, he seeks justice and accountability for the families of the victims who were shot dead, while demanding dignity.
This is the story of how Kenyan youth fought and won, but at an immense human cost of dozens of lives.
Credits
Director: Tierney Bonini
Senior Producer: Tierney Bonini
Local producer: George Kihara
Author: Antonia Perello
Director of Photography: Joe Mwihia
Editor: Antonia Perello
Sound mixer: Yago Cordero Domenech
Senior Editor: Donald Cameron
