Digital emancipation: How Kenyan youth are dissenting through online satire

It was expected that outrage and condemnation would greet President William Ruto's order that police swiftly shoot the legs of those protesters targeting to loot businesses during demonstrations against his administration.

Another interesting response to Ruto's order is how Kenyans are creating videos mimicking people unable to walk without support after getting shot in their legs. So popular are the videos that songs and memes have emerged depicting how miserable Kenyans will be if they're all shot in their legs because of Ruto's directive.

In a new modern way of dissent that has been aided by digital emancipation, Kenyans have opted to mock their country's leadership and its outrageous decisions through art and music, where satire has taken centre stage.

The currently trending videos of Kenyans expressing helplessness emanated after Ruto ordered police to shoot protesters targeting businesses in the legs, ensuring they are incapacitated but not killed.

"Anyone caught burning another person's business or property should be shot in the leg, hospitalised, and later taken to court. Don't kill them, but ensure their legs are broken," the president said.

He further warned his political rivals against sponsoring and using violent protests and "unlawful" means to forcibly remove him from power.

The University of Nairobi's Prof Tom Odhiambo, who specialises in Literature, said the youth, especially Generation Z, are bold in their response to political persecution or maladministration than any other generation.

"People respond to politicians every day. The youth differ from you and me because they speak out loudly about their dissatisfaction," said Prof Odhiambo.

Ruto defended the police action, saying an attack on security forces would be a "declaration of war" against the country.

"Kenya cannot and will not be ruled through threats, terror, or chaos. Not under my watch," the president said, vowing to "firmly" deal with those behind the protests.

Kenyans, especially those who are digitally savvy, are making videos on political topics in the country and are posting them on social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Ruto said any change of government was only possible through the ballot and not through protests, urging his opponents to wait for the 2027 General Election.

"This country will not be destroyed by a few people who are impatient and who want a change of government using unconstitutional means. It is not going to happen," Ruto added.

Government spokesman Gabriel Muthuma accepted there had been incidents of excessive force by police, adding that some policemen were under investigation.

But he claimed that Ruto's order to shoot protesters in the legs should be viewed in the context that "we've had people who have now taken up to go and burn the police stations...to go and burn people's property and sometimes actually injure the police."

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Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has criticised the orders by President William Ruto's administration to shoot-to-kill or maim suspects linked to chaos during protests.

In a statement on Friday, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader explained that such actions often contradict one's right to a fair trial before being deemed guilty.

He appealed to the government to prioritise arrests and arraignment in court over killing or maiming a suspect.

As a country, we must at all times opt for the Rule of Law and due process and reject the temptation to give police illegitimate and deadly powers over citizens even when the citizens are perceived to have broken the law," Raila noted.

"We are all better served as a country when we stick to the principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty; a determination that can only be made by a competent court of law. Let's prioritise arrests and arraignment in courts over killing, maiming or brutalising of suspects."

"This preserves the dignity and respects the human rights of suspects while at the same time confers credibility to the actions of the State."

Raila pointed out that a militarised approach to governing a country would ultimately lead to its downfall.

Mukuru Social Justice Centre Coordinator Anami Daudi told The Eastleigh Voice that Ruto's statement is reckless as it is now clear that the head of state has suspended the Constitution.

"It's very risky now, it's clear the statement of Kipchumba Murkomen was direct from the president, which is shoot to kill. This is a licence that has been given to police officers to kill civilians because they don't believe in the criminal justice system that we have," said Anami.