In the wake of Kenya’s June 2024 Gen Z protests, Abraham Lincoln’s timeless definition of democracy— “government of the people, by the people, for the people”—has taken on a renewed and more urgent meaning. The protests, sparked by rising economic hardships, excessive taxation, and government unaccountability, signified more than just a bill’s rejection. They symbolised a generational shift—a demand for inclusive, transparent, and people-driven governance.
As technology continues to connect nations and communities, the barriers between power and the people are shrinking. Yet, this interconnected world also reveals deep-seated governance challenges—many of which stem from historical top-down decision-making structures.
For decades, policies and development initiatives have been dictated by national governments, large institutions, and elite policymakers who often have limited understanding of the lived realities of ordinary citizens. The result? Inefficiency, misallocation of resources, and broken trust between leaders and the people.
But change is unfolding at the grassroots level. Shifting power to local communities—to the very people affected by these policies—has proven to be the most effective catalyst for real progress. Across villages, towns, and counties, youth, women, and marginalised groups are stepping forward, no longer willing to be passive spectators in governance.
Take for instance, the youth-led Bajeti Mtaani movement, where young people scrutinise county budgets and demand transparency in public spending. Or She Leads Kenya, an initiative for Plan International empowering young women to take up political leadership and challenge the male-dominated governance structures. These grassroots movements are redefining democracy, ensuring it is not just a concept written in the Constitution but a lived experience—where the voices of ordinary citizens shape policies, influence decisions, and hold leaders accountable.
For years, youth in Kenya have been stereotyped as disengaged, politically indifferent, and uninterested in governance. But the reality is quite the opposite. Young people are at the forefront of change, organizing policy dialogues, civic education forums, and digital activism campaigns. They are not just protesting; they are proposing solutions. They are not just demanding accountability; they are actively participating in governance processes—from public participation meetings to budget hearings and legislative debates.
When communities take ownership of their development, they build resilience, foster accountability, and create sustainable solutions that truly address their needs.
The power shift towards grassroots democracy is irreversible. When communities take ownership of their development, they build resilience, foster accountability, and create sustainable solutions that truly address their needs. The era of governance as a privilege for a select few is fading. Kenya’s democracy is being reshaped from the ground up, and at the heart of this transformation are the people—young and old, women and men, rural and urban—demanding that leadership be truly of, by, and for them.
The question is no longer if grassroots democracy will ignite system change. The question is: how far will it go?
Devolution as a Stimulus to Grassroot Democracy in Kenya: Strengthening Local Governance and Empowering Communities.
The Constitution of Kenya 2010 marked a turning point for grassroots democracy by introducing devolution, a governance system aimed at bringing services closer to the people and recognising citizens as the ultimate source of power. One of the most significant achievements of devolution has been the empowerment of communities to identify their own challenges and create homegrown solutions rather than relying on external interventions.
For instance, counties now exercise authority over budget allocation, development planning, and governance, allowing communities to actively participate through public forums, civil society initiatives, and grassroots advocacy. This shift has ensured that: Resources are distributed based on community needs rather than political interests. Public participation is not just symbolic but meaningful, and Communities can monitor government projects, ensuring transparency and accountability. This has been successfully realised through People’s Assemblies, such as establishing social centre justice halls where citizens actively participate in the budget-making process and resource allocation for priority projects.
Case Studies: Success Stories of Grassroots Initiatives through Devolution
Makueni County, in Kenya, has become a benchmark for a functional devolution system due to its well-established public participation frameworks that actively engage citizens. The county has implemented various mechanisms to enhance grassroots involvement in governance and development. Among these are community-based committees composed of local residents who oversee the implementation of community projects, ensuring transparency and accountability. Additionally, Participatory Budgeting and the County Budget and Economic Forum (CBEF) frameworks emphasise inclusivity, allowing diverse voices to shape budget priorities and policy decisions.
Nyeri County stands as a testament to the success of devolution, demonstrating that with proper governance and citizen involvement, counties can achieve significant milestones. In the 2024 Peer Review Process (PRP) conducted by NEPAD/APRM, Nyeri was among the counties that voluntarily underwent evaluation. The county emerged as the top performer in delivering devolved services, scoring an impressive 55% in overall citizen satisfaction. The assessment focused on residents’ feedback regarding service delivery and recommendations for further improvement. A key highlight of Nyeri’s success is its pioneering Health Fund, established through county legislation. This initiative has significantly enhanced healthcare service delivery, with the high prevalence of NCDs such as hypertension and diabetes reducing by 28% and 19%, respectively.
By fostering grassroots democracy, Kenya is moving beyond addressing symptoms of challenges to implementing sustainable solutions that tackle root causes. When citizens are engaged, informed, and empowered, governance becomes not just a system but a collective effort to build a better society
Enhancing Grassroot Democracy in Kenya: Bringing Governance Closer to the People
In Kenya, governance is most effective when it starts from the ground up—where everyday citizens engage in shaping policies, influencing decisions, and holding leaders accountable. Grassroots democracy ensures that governance is not confined to boardrooms or parliamentary chambers but is instead rooted in the realities of local communities.
The Role of Community-Based Organizations in promoting democracy in Kenya
Civil Society Organizations play a critical role in promoting grassroots democracy by acting between the citizens and the government. Some of the key roles include educating citizens on their rights and responsibilities, facilitating civic education, holding the government accountable for the use of public resources and advocating for marginalised groups. Across Kenya, public participation in budgeting and development planning is increasingly becoming a catalyst for accountability and transparency. At the core of this transformation are civil society organizations like Bajeti Hub, which is empowering communities with knowledge about Public Finance Management (PFM). These groups train budget champions across counties in Kenya, individuals who educate their communities on how county budgets work, how to track government spending, and how to demand better services.
Through initiatives led by organisations like the Center for Multiparty Democracy (CMD-Kenya) and Urai Trust that focus on educating citizens on their constitutional rights and responsibilities so that ordinary citizens—the farmer in Kericho, the boda boda rider in Kajiado, the market vendor in Narok, and the student in Bomet—are gaining the knowledge and confidence to actively engage in governance. These programs do more than just teach theory; they provide practical empowerment, helping people understand how the government works, how budgets are allocated, and, most importantly, how to demand accountability.
Amid the challenges facing CSOs, such as lack of funding and donor shift in the area of priority, grassroots organisations have emerged as key drivers of change, equipping young people and women with the skills, knowledge, and platforms necessary to engage in governance and policy-making. Initiatives such as She Leads Kenya are actively encouraging young women to step into political leadership, breaking traditional barriers and fostering gender inclusivity in governance. Similarly, Emerging Leaders Foundation Africa (ELF-Africa) is empowering youth at the grassroots level to take up leadership roles, ensuring that governance structures reflect the voices and priorities of young people.
Beyond activism, these movements are reshaping Kenya’s democratic space by promoting civic engagement, policy advocacy, and community-driven governance. As more youth and women take up leadership roles, the country is steadily moving towards a more inclusive, participatory, and accountable democracy—one where every citizen has the power to influence decision-making and drive meaningful change.
The Role of Youth in Strengthening Governance: A New Era of Grassroots Leadership
According to the Kenya National Bureau Statistics (KNBS) survey 2022, 75% of the Kenyan population are youth (below 35 years), and the majority of them are the GenZ who recently showed their significance in shaping Kenya’s politics on matters of democracy, constitution, transparency and accountability. Youth, once sidelined in governance, are now taking active roles in shaping the political landscape in Kenya by not merely participating but leading the movements. No longer passive observers, they are challenging decisions that prioritise political interests over public good.
In recent years, Kenya has witnessed a transformative shift in grassroots movements, with youth and women taking centre stage in governance and political activism. This momentum was notably highlighted during the Gen Z-led Reject the Bill 2024 protests, a nationwide movement fuelled by public outrage over excessive taxation, high unemployment rates, and mounting economic hardships.
One of the most significant youth-led digital advocacy campaigns is the “Vampire Diaries” initiative, where young people monitor and expose stalled government projects that have already been allocated funds and marked as “completed” in official county reports. This initiative, among others, has been instrumental in promoting proper utilization of public resources, transparency, pushing for policy changes, and amplifying marginalised voices in governance. However, the struggle between political leaders and citizens remains a key challenge. While communities push for projects that directly improve their lives—such as better schools, hospitals, and infrastructure—politicians often prioritise initiatives that will boost their electoral chances.
For grassroots democracy to thrive, there must be intentions to strengthen legal frameworks to enforce public participation in the grassroots levels and for the government to utilise the budget allocated for civic education.
With the increasing availability of smartphones and internet penetration, even in rural areas, youth have seized the opportunity to organise digital movements and online demonstrations. Hashtags such as #LindaKatiba, #SemaUkweli, #RutoMustGo, and #StopAbductions have trended widely, sparking national conversations and pressuring leaders to act. The rise of digital activism has transformed grassroots democracy in Kenya, providing a powerful platform for advocacy, accountability, and citizen mobilisation. Social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) Spaces, Facebook, and WhatsApp have become essential tools for exposing corruption, demanding rights, and mobilising communities for action.
Through digital activism, Kenya’s youth are redefining grassroots democracy, ensuring that leaders are held accountable and that citizens remain actively engaged in shaping the country’s future. Despite these hurdles, something remarkable is happening. Increased public scrutiny, combined with community-driven project monitoring, is forcing leaders to listen and act. Roads are being built where once there were empty promises, hospitals are being equipped, and communities are seeing real development that reflects their actual needs.
The road to full participatory democracy is still long, but with informed, engaged, and empowered citizens, grassroots movements are proving that governance is not just for the elected—it is for everyone. And when the people take charge of their own development, true democracy thrives.
The Challenges and the Future of Grassroots Democracy in Kenya.
Despite the progress made in strengthening grassroots democracy, significant challenges persist, with political interference and suppression of activists and community leaders. Kenya is experiencing a radical political shift, largely driven by its youth, who are demanding inclusive governance. However, their efforts have been met with fierce resistance from the government, which has responded with heavy-handed crackdowns, including abductions and killings, particularly during anti-government protests.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported 82 abductions between June and December 2024, with 29 individuals still missing as of December 26, 2024. These incidents highlight a growing trend of enforced disappearances and targeted violence against activists, journalists, and community leaders advocating for democratic reforms. The increasing use of intimidation tactics not only threatens civic space but also undermines the fundamental right to peaceful assembly and free expression. In addition to state suppression, grassroots democracy faces other challenges such as limited civic education on matters of governance and accountability, political disillusionment, and the manipulation of public participation forums by powerful elites.
For grassroots democracy to thrive, there must be intentions to strengthen legal frameworks to enforce public participation at the grassroots levels and for the government to utilise the budget allocated for civic education. Civil societies enhance collaborations in the county, national governments and international partners to make grassroots democracy effective. The role of youth engagement in politics is crucial in strengthening grassroots democracy to achieve sustainability and inclusivity.
