Gen Z Revolt History: Raphael Tuju Reminisces Moment Mudavadi, Murathe Were Arrested over Activism
- Raphael Tuju revisited a turbulent era, recalling how young intellectuals confronted authority, with many paying a painful price for their courage
- He noted how privilege shielded a few from harsh consequences, contrasting their survival with the suffering endured by less fortunate peers
- Tuju warned of troubling national signs, drawing comparisons with neighbouring countries, but also suggested untapped opportunities within Kenya’s youthful population
Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
Former Cabinet secretary Raphael Tuju has made a startling revelation about the youth of his generation when he included Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi among the university students who were arrested by the late former president Daniel Moi's regime following the events of the 1982 coup attempt.
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Speaking during a candid interview on Hot 96 radio on Sunday, August 24, Tuju recounted how a wave of young intellectuals in their early 20s stood up to the Moi regime, often paying a heavy price.
He named student leader Titus Andugosi from Busia, who died in jail after serving seven years, and Jeff Mwangi, who was imprisoned and later died in exile in Norway.
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Others included former Kenyan Ambassador Peter Ogego, who was jailed for nine years, Mwandawiro Mganga, Oduor Ong’wen—now Executive Director of ODM—and many others who were tortured, jailed, or killed.
Why was Mudavadi released after his arrest?
Tuju noted that while many youths suffered, Mudavadi and former Member of Parliament David Murathe survived largely because of their privileged backgrounds.
He argued that their lives would have taken different trajectories if their fathers were not people of means, pointing out that Mudavadi’s father was a minister in Moi’s government.
He likened this to a recent case where the son of CS Justin Muturi was released from custody through his father’s intervention, unlike other youths who perished in the streets or police cells.
Tuju linked today’s Gen Z activism to a demographic bulge dating back to the 1980s when Kenya recorded the world’s highest population growth rate at 4.2 per cent.
He faulted successive governments for ignoring the unfolding crisis.
Is Kenya headed in the right direction?
According to the former Jubilee Party secretary general, the only period when Kenya experienced economic growth strong enough to make a difference was under the late former president Mwai Kibaki in 2007, when the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth hit 7.2 per cent, but this was disrupted by post-election violence.
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When asked about current corruption in Parliament, Tuju shot back.
“What about the Church? Corruption is a cancer in the whole society. The dysfunction and corruption in all arms of government, and especially the judiciary, are surely a recipe for a failed state.”
He warned that Kenya is already showing signs of collapse, drawing parallels with neighbouring countries.
“Let me ask you,” he posed to his interviewer, “can you wake up tomorrow morning and drive to Turkana, Baringo or Lamu without worrying about the security situation?”
He argued that while corruption in the executive and legislature is damaging, a failing judiciary is most dangerous as it erodes justice and fuels lawlessness.
Tuju cautioned that such dysfunction could push citizens to resolve disputes through violence, drawing parallels with militia-driven chaos in countries like Haiti.
Despite the grim assessment, Tuju remained cautiously optimistic. He argued that Kenya’s youth bulge could be turned into an advantage.
Citing United Nations studies, he said Nairobi’s Gigiri may soon host more UN agencies after a shift from New York, making Kenya the second-biggest UN hub globally.
On his political future after resigning from Jubilee, Tuju remained noncommittal, saying only: “I am keeping my options open because any politician who says never again is simply lying.”
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Zipporah Weru (Freelance editor) Zipporah Weru is a professional journalist with a bias towards human interest, human rights, crimes and court reporting with over 14 years’ experience in journalism. She is currently covering civil, criminal and constitutional cases across Nairobi courts. She holds a Diploma in Journalism and Public Relations from the Technical University of Kenya. You can reach her at zweru34@gmail.com.
Nancy Odindo (Current affairs editor) I have one year of experience in print media and more than four years in digital media. I am currently working with Tuko.co.ke as a Current Affairs editor. I have attended training on Managing Sexual Harassment and Gender Equality and Inclusion, organised by WAN-IFRA and the Google News Initiative (GNI), designed to help journalists find, verify, and tell their stories. Email: nancy.odindo@tuko.co.ke/nancyodindo@gmail.com
