11/07/2025
*CONNECTION BETWEEN COVID-19 AND MAANDAMANO YA GEN-Z*
When COVID-19 landed in Kenya back in 2020, it didn’t just shut down offices, clubs and schools — it also shut down the dreams and livelihoods of millions of young people. Many lost jobs overnight and suddenly found themselves stuck at home, broke and idle, staring at the ceiling with nothing but time on their hands.
With nowhere to go, the internet became their new playground. This is when thousands of young Kenyans threw themselves fully into the online world — some out of boredom, others in search of new ways to survive. YouTube, TikTok and Instagram turned into classrooms, comedy stages and even workplaces.
During those endless lockdown days, many youths discovered a hidden talent for editing videos, designing memes, coding, or running viral pages. Basic IT skills that schools never taught them suddenly became weapons for survival — and self-expression.
But while they were busy entertaining themselves online, they couldn’t ignore reality. Stuck at home, many faced hunger and sickness and realized just how important government services were — and how painfully slow or corrupt the system could be. A generation that mostly stayed quiet about politics suddenly began asking tough questions.
When the 2022 elections came, these frustrations turned into hope. Many believed new leaders might finally fix what was broken. But after the elections, when it felt like the same old script was playing out, the same youths "now armed with IT skills" turned their frustration into something unexpected: jokes.
They started making cartoons and memes of the President and other leaders — just for laughs at first. But soon those jokes became viral hits. Followers increased. Brands noticed. Suddenly, making fun of politicians online was not just entertainment — it was a way to earn money.
As the memes spread like wildfire, more youths joined in. Everyone wanted to ride the new wave called content creation. What started as idle jokes turned into a serious side hustle — and for some, a full-time career.
Then came the next twist: the streets. Young content creators realized that crazy street videos — pranks, public interviews, confronting authority — got even more views. TikTok rewarded them. Followers rewarded them. And soon, recording protests and drama on the streets became the ultimate content goldmine.
This is how the spirit of maandamano with a camera was born. Protests became more than just shouting for rights — they became viral moments. A tear gas canister in the background? Even better content. Police chases? More likes.
Before we knew it, the Gen-Z maandamano wave had grown its own life. Some used it to genuinely demand change, others turned it into pure content. And while looters took advantage of the chaos to steal, the real fuel behind it was this restless, tech-savvy generation filming every moment.
When the police responded with force, the clips only made the movement trend harder. The more they were tear-gassed, the more the world watched.
In the end, it all traces back to that strange season in 2020 — when COVID-19 gave young Kenyans nothing but idle time, an internet connection and a reason to question everything. Out of boredom came skills. Out of skills came content. And out of content came a new breed of protest — Maandamano ya Gen-Z.
