How Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us' Helped Young Kenyans Lead a Successful Protest in Their Country

Like many Africans countries colonized in the 20th century, Kenya has struggled to find its diplomatic footing in the decades since independence. The East African nation successfully broke away from British rule in 1962, and a small circle of wealthy and powerful Kenyans quickly took over. They relied on their connections with the Western superpowers and the damaging effects of colonialism to maintain their power. While this strategy has worked—Kenya has yet to see a president not associated with this cycle—it has not been without its conflict. The nation has found itself in states of civil unrest as the gap between the country's governing bodies and its people continues to widen.

Now, it has become unbearable and Gen Z Kenyans have had enough.

Last month, young Kenyans took to social media to oppose the country's 2024 finance bill, which proposed increased taxes on an alarming amount of everyday items, from tampons to bread. Using the hashtag #RejectFinanceBill2024 to rally, it was an unprecedented approach to activism for Kenyans that inspired both international attention and national unity — and spawned a viral protest song that samples Kendrick Lamar's diss track “Not Like Us.”

Titled 'Reject Hio Bill', the track, by local rapper Sabi Wu, has become the subject of a movement calling for change in Kenya's government.

“The song represents the feelings of young Kenyans like me who live in tough economic times,” says Wu Rolling rock via email. “Gen Z has always been ignored, but we've shown we have a voice through the mass protests I've attended and supported.”

Wu says the “combative and accusatory nature” of Lamar's “Not Like Us” provided the perfect backdrop for his own performance, representing how Kenyans really feel about their government. “I freestyled the chorus and first verse in less than 15 minutes and uploaded it to social media without really expecting anything,” the rapper explains. “People responded to it so much that I finished and released the song afterwards.” The song has gone on to be used by thousands of people in their posts about and from the protests.

The protests began a few weeks ago when young Kenyans, angered by the economic bill and already struggling amid the country's deteriorating currency following the Covid-19 pandemic, marched in Nairobi's central business district for a damn it (the Swahili word for protest), as Kenyan President William Ruto and members of parliament prepared to vote on the bill.

Although the protests were initially peaceful, tensions quickly escalated. Attendees were outnumbered and met with violent retaliation at the hands of the Kenyan police. Some protesters broke the blockades and stormed parliament, in an act eerily similar to the events of January 6, 2021, in the U.S. Kenya's Human Rights Commission said 39 people killed and hundreds injured or tear gas fired, including former US President Barack Obama's sister Dr. Auma Obama.

“Honestly, it was scary,” Ezra Ruto, a young Kenyan on the front lines, says in an email. “Many of us, myself included, have been subjected to tear gas and rubber bullets by the police for exercising our constitutional rights.”

But with Wu's “Reject Hio Bill” as the soundtrack, the protests appear to have succeeded: President Ruto, who was initially indifferent to the backlash, finally conceded and announced on June 27 that he would not sign the bill, according to BBC.

It was a great victory, but the young Kenyans say the fight is not over. Haunted by the lives lost and the deeper issues rooted in Kenya's democracy, the country's Gen Z population now want President Ruto removed from office and are ready to continue speaking out until the government reflects their needs and ideals.

“In Kenya, politics has always been tribal,” says Wu. “That's what always used to bring people together, but we young people chose to be united and raceless. This is what has given us strength. This is really about the people from the people. All this has brought about a real change and ushered in a new era in Kenyan politics.”

According to Tom Osborn, CEO of the Shamiri Institute, a non-profit organization committed to making mental health support accessible in Kenya and across Africa, any new era of policy in the country must incorporate the nation's youth and champion efforts that empower them after years of neglect.

“Many young Kenyans feel they don't have a fair chance to realize their life's outcomes,” says Osborn. It recommends investing in youth development, “merit-based” access to education and career opportunities, and addressing the mental health crisis as necessary steps to bridging the gap between youth and government.

“For Gen Z, validation and recognition of their struggles is vital. It's not just about solving problems. it's about recognizing and empathizing with the difficulties they face. The lack of this validation has intensified feelings of alienation and neglect,” says Osborn.

“Na ni ndo tunavote, na ni si tunachagua,” Wu rapped on his provocative track. His translation? “We are the ones who choose, we are the ones who vote.”