Kenyan Activist: Uganda Feared We’d Import Kenyan Gen Z Protests

A Kenyan activist has alleged that Ugandan security officials detained and interrogated him and his colleagues over unfounded fears that they were planning to import Kenya’s youth-led protest movement into the country.

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The claims, made by activist Nicholas Oyoo, highlight the regional ripple effects of Kenya’s recent anti-government demonstrations and suggest a level of apprehension within neighboring governments about the potential for similar unrest.

Oyoo stated that he and fellow activists were held by Ugandan intelligence officials who repeatedly questioned their intentions.

“The intelligence guys there kept asking us if we are planning to bring Kenyan Gen Zs to Uganda,” Oyoo recounted. “That’s an insult to the Ugandan people.”

He criticized the underlying implication of the questioning, arguing that it dismissed the agency and power of Ugandan citizens. “Why would the government think their own people have no power to agitate for change?” he asked.

The “Gen Z” protests in Kenya, which have been largely organized and mobilized online by young Kenyans, have captured international attention for their decentralized nature and their focus on issues of governance, economic accountability, and anti-corruption. The movement has led to significant political pressure on the Kenyan government.

Oyoo’s account suggests that the model of youth-led mobilization, which has proven effective in Kenya, is being viewed as a potential security threat by authorities in Kampala. Uganda has its own history of political unrest and a government that maintains a firm grip on power, with opposition figures often facing significant challenges.

As of the time of reporting, Ugandan government officials have not publicly commented on Oyoo’s allegations. The incident raises questions about the cross-border influence of grassroots political movements and how regional governments are assessing the threat of similar, organic activism taking root within their own populations.

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