Raphael Tuju Reflects on History of Gen Z Revolt, Causes and Way Forward: "It Has Been Boiling"
- Raphael Tuju linked Kenya’s economic strain and Gen Z unrest to decades of unchecked population growth
- He warned of a collapsing job market, rising corruption across institutions, and a judiciary he says risks pushing the nation towards instability
- Tuju called on leaders to reshape political culture and confront the youth bulge crisis before it spirals further
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Kenya’s economic challenges and the Gen Z protests that shaking the country today began building many years ago, according to Raphael Tuju.
Source: UGC
Speaking during a radio interview, the former Cabinet secretary urged Kenyans to reflect on the roots of today’s economic hardship and the Gen Z-led protests.
He argued that many of the frustrations driving young people onto the streets stem from the pressure created by rapid population growth.
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He recalled that during the 1980s and 1990s, Kenya recorded a population growth rate of 4.2 percent, the highest in the world and far above the global average.
“Gen Z must reflect on where we have come from. These numbers were not just statistics, they were a warning. The Gen Z phenomenon we see today has been boiling for over 40 years, but as a nation we did little to address it,” Tuju said.
Looking back at Kenya’s political history, Tuju recounted how youthful leaders of his generation, such as Moses Mudavadi and David Murathe, were abducted and arrested under the Moi regime.
He noted that Mudavadi’s release was influenced by his father’s senior government role.
“Mudavadi and Murathe were arrested. If the father was not a minister, his trajectory in life would have been different,” he observed.
Tuju contrasted the job prospects of his generation with today’s situation. He said that in the past, graduates could count on immediate employment, citing Kenyatta University graduates who were once guaranteed teaching posts.
Today, however, more than a million young people leave school each year with no jobs waiting.
Why did Tuju warn the judiciary?
He also criticised the judiciary, warning that its dysfunction could push Kenya towards instability.
“First of all, you need to understand what constitutes a failed state. A corrupt and dysfunctional executive, legislature. But the worst is a dysfunctional judiciary. When that happens, the country is finished because then it brings out militia. If I have something against you, we don’t go to court. I get my militia and you get shot, and the matter is resolved in that way. That’s what happens in places like Haiti,” Tuju said.
Beyond politics and the economy, he called out corruption across society, questioning why attention is placed only on government.
“You’re talking about parliament being corrupt. How about the church? It is corrupt. So there’s no way by which the executive can accuse the parliament or the judiciary can accuse the executive. This corruption is almost pathological,. It's a cancer we have in this society,” he said.
What did Tuju say about his political future?
On his political future, the former Jubilee Party secretary general said he keeps his options open but emphasised that his focus is on reshaping Kenya’s political culture.
“The thing is that I keep my options open, a politician never… But I think that for me what is more urgent for us is to change the narrative so that we are not hoodwinked and conned by this ethnic mobilisation in the political arena, because we’ll still end up having the same problems,” he explained.
Tuju closed by urging leaders to confront the youth bulge crisis with courage, warning that few are taking serious steps to change the narrative. He stressed that Kenya’s future depends on bold and honest action.
Source: Facebook
Why did Tuju quit Jubilee Party?
This came just days after Tuju stepped down from Jubilee, dealing a blow to former president Uhuru Kenyatta’s push to revive the outfit ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Tuju recalled his journey in the party, highlighting his six-year tenure as secretary general. He noted that the political space had shifted after the 2018 handshake between Uhuru and Raila Odinga, which strained ties between the Kalenjin and Kikuyu factions inside Jubilee.
Although he expressed gratitude for the trust Uhuru had placed in him, Tuju said he no longer saw how his role added value to the party.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
