Breaking point happens when society seeks change fearlessly

This economic strain is mirrored in the healthcare sector, where Kenya’s performance remains modest on the continental stage. The latest Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) report ranks Kenya’s healthcare system 15th out of 54 African nations. This underscores the persistent gaps in medical service delivery and infrastructure, preventing the country from reaching the highest standards of care.

Beyond the economic and healthcare pressures, the challenge of youth employment looms large. Every year, over 550,000 young Kenyans graduate from universities and tertiary institutions, eager to enter the workforce. However, formal employment opportunities remain scarce, with less than 20 per cent of these graduates securing jobs immediately upon completing their studies.

These intersecting challenges – rising business costs, a healthcare system striving for improvement, and a labour market unable to absorb the influx of young talent – are accelerating Kenya’s plunge into a breaking point.

People begin to believe that the system doesn’t care about them. This internal erosion of trust eventually fuels collective anger like the one exhibited by that young man in Meru. Socio-economically, rising inequality, unemployment, and chronic mismanagement of resources create an environment where basic needs are persistently unmet. The intersection of psychological despair and economic deprivation forms the crucible in which revolutionary sentiment is forged.

Kenya has long been a land of vibrant dissent and resilient optimism. In June 2024, a wave of Gen-Z-led demonstrations swept across Kenya. Young people, emboldened by digital connectivity and a strong sense of social justice, took to the streets demanding accountability and reform. The demonstrations were a manifestation of an underlying crisis of confidence in a system that has repeatedly failed to address the grievances of its citizens.

While Kenya’s protests erupted on the streets, Botswana demonstrated that the vote can be just as revolutionary. In 2024, voters overwhelmingly chose Duma Boko, the opposition leader over the incumbent president. This peaceful electoral revolt underscored a significant shift in the collective mindset.

Both Kenya’s street protests and Botswana’s ballot-driven revolution are rooted in a profound dissatisfaction with systems that have repeatedly failed. Given the undercurrents of deep discontent, Kenya is nearing a breaking point. The strain of unmet expectations and systemic neglect exacts a heavy psychological toll.

Many Kenyans describe a sense of “emotional fatigue,” a state where hope dwindles as everyday struggles become insurmountable obstacles.