Gen Z: Why Jamhuri Day has lost meaning

As the country prepares to commemorate Jamhuri Day, the aspirations of the important public holiday in the country's calendar of events is increasingly feeling distant and hollow among young Kenyans.

For many Kenyan youth, Jamhuri celebrations no longer feel like a moment of unity and reflection on the strides the country has made, but a reminder of how tough daily life has become.

Once marked by family feasts and national pride, according to some of the Generation Zs who spoke to The Standard, the holiday now competes with the pressure to simply survive.

And with the rising taxes, economic strain, and a widening disconnect from national leadership, Peace Issa, President of Jomo Kenyatta University Students Association (Jkusa), says the holiday has lost the spark it once carried.

"Life is so tough," he said. "We've digressed from our national values onto which the country's forefathers who fought for independence, founded the nation.  

"Some of the core principles that the nation was founded on have been forgotten. The society is filled with impunity and corruption. The common man is not feeling any benefit from the government."

First celebrated on December 12, 1964, Jamhuri Day reminds Kenyans of the period when the country became a republic, with natives seizing full control of power and leadership from the British colonial rulers. 

Jamhuri is a Swahili word which means 'republic' and is observed annually with national ceremonies, parades and cultural showcases, with this, with similar honours expected on Friday. 

However, Issa notes that the successive government regimes, including the current administration, have failed their citizens, as the socio-economic status of the country does not reflect the vision of the vital day. 

"The direction they've (regimes) taken the country, people no longer feel the need to celebrate the special events. Most of these national celebrations have lost touch with, especially this young generation, even the older generation, and millennials.' he said. 

Friday's will be the second Jamhuri after the Gen Z uprising emerged in the country, following the youth-led agitation against, among others, increased taxes, high cost of leaving and accountability issues. 

According to human rights organisations, more than 100 people lost their lives since the June last year nationwide protests. Dozens of people were equally left injured, and several others still missing in the aftermath of demos.

Mwangu Atemo, vice chair of Kanu National Youth Congress, while acknowledging that "we benefit from the expanded freedoms," agrees with Issa. "The gap between the ideals of 1963 and the lived realities of 2025 is stark" decades after gaining self rule. 

She maintains that despite they fight for sovereignty by founders of the nation, that we the future generations could live in a nation with equal opportunities, access to education, equal employment opportunities, healthcare and justice, are still a toll order for majority. 

"Most Gen Zs feel detached from the benefits. Unemployment, systemic inequalities, corruption just to mention a few are part of the scourge that erode the promise of independence," said Atemo. 

"Independence remains symbolic rather than substantive," she added.  "These are the fruits of independence that we the Gen Z ought to be enjoying. However, the harsh realities on the ground have left us distraught." 

Kerry Mwita, a Mount Kenya University student of Law, agreed. "While there are notable gains including the new constitution and multi party democracy," impunity is still engraved in the country's leadership system. 

For him, this year's Jamhuri day is a reminder of the work ahead in defending the spirit of constitutionalism, pan-africanism and true liberation from neo-colonialism.

"In the wake of enforced disappearances and cross-border suppression of dissent, we must remember the significance of cross-border solidarity among East Africa's founding fathers in our independence struggle," he said. 

Roseline Alionya, the ODM party's young captains chair, said Gen Zs are partially enjoying the fruits of independence but many feel detached from the promises of independence.

She attributed the disconnect to "economic disillusionment, leadership and governance gaps and inequality and unmet social aspirations of many Kenyans, particularly the youth. 

"Kenya's independence brought political freedom but many Gen Zs feel that the economic and social fruits of freedom have not fully reached them," she said. 

Ian Horsefield, a governance expert, contends with the sentiment by the Gen Zs, saying are "spot on" and reflect the wider feeling of Kenyans across demographics. 

He said the young people have been betrayed by the leaders entrusted with public resources and therefore "they cannot feel any form of patriotism to a country that does not take their plight seriously.' 

"This is a country that tax collection we collect very well... but there is nothing that is being done to create jobs,' Horsefield said.  

"They are detached," he added. "And rightly so. Because now you can only be as patriotic as to what the nation has done for you." 

According to him, how the Gen Zs will react to this year's celebrations of Jamhuri Day, to express their displeasure with the State, remains to be seen. 

For Issa, he regrets that such holidays as Jamhuri are no longer "resting days" as it sued to be people 'have no time to celebrate" and that he is planning to open his kiosk on that day for fend for himself. “People will just be going on with business as usual."