KENYA MAY FACE THE SAME CRISIS IN NEPAL - KARUNGO

Kiambu Senator and Gachagua's close ally Karungo Wa Thang’wa has urged Kenyan politicians to pay closer attention to the frustrations of young people, warning that the kind of turmoil seen in Nepal could easily erupt if their concerns continue to be brushed aside.

Thang’wa linked the disillusionment of Nepalese youth to the growing restlessness among young Kenyans, saying the lessons are clear.

“What happened in Nepal should be a wake-up call. When leaders ignore the cries of the youth, they create a pressure cooker that eventually explodes,” he said.

He cautioned that Kenya faces similar risks, pointing to widespread unemployment, attempts at online restrictions, and the privileges of political elites as issues that must be urgently addressed.

“Kenyan youth are watching. They are connected, informed, and increasingly impatient with tokenism and empty promises,” Thang’wa added, calling on lawmakers to prioritize genuine youth inclusion, safeguard digital freedoms, and embrace transparency in public service.

His warning comes after days of violent demonstrations in Kathmandu, led by Gen Z protesters, which ended with the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and claimed at least 23 lives.

The senator is known for his support of youth activism, notably during the June 2025 demonstrations when he condemned police brutality and pressed for accountability from top officials. His latest remarks underline his willingness to acknowledge the political weight carried by the Gen Zs and the desire to win the lot that constitute almost 70% of the Kenyan population to their DCP side.

Civil society groups have also shared his concerns. According to Wanjiru Njoroge of the Civic Futures Network, treating youth activism as mere noise is a grave mistake.

“Nepal’s crisis shows that digital natives can mobilize offline—and when they do, the impact is seismic,” she said.

The situation in Nepal reflects the state of issues in Kenya a year ago - when the GenZ protesters revolted over the same issues decried by their contemporaries in Kathmandu.

However, the government managed to quell the situation and the President has rolled out a panel to oversee the compensation of the victims.

For Thang’wa, the message is simple: ignoring young people is no longer an option. And as civil society voices echo the same warning, the question hanging over Kenya’s leaders is whether they will address the issues of corruption and increased unemployment —or wait until the anger spills into the streets.