Gen Z protester, Ezekiel Kyama, during an interview at Nation Center in Nairobi on June 3, 2026.
On June 25, 2024, as smoke billowed over the streets of Nairobi and the air grew thick with the sting of tear gas, one young man did the unthinkable.
Amidst the chaos of the Finance Bill 2024 protests, Ezekiel Kyama, now famously known as "Mr Speaker Sir" breached the inner sanctum of Kenyan democracy — Parliament Buildings.
For many, he became the face of a defiant generation. For the State, he became a person of interest.
Gen Z protester, Ezekiel Kyama, during an interview at Nation Center in Nairobi on June 3, 2026.
When the dust settled and the tens of youths who were killed during the protests were buried, the identity of the man who had recorded himself inside the chamber remained unknown. His whereabouts were also unknown as speculation abound that he was also killed.
After disappearing from the public eye for nearly two years, Mr Kyama has emerged from the shadows to recount a harrowing journey of defiance, tragedy and survival.
His story of living in hiding is a vivid window into the psyche of the Gen Z movement that shook the foundations of the government.
Recalling the moment, he stepped into Parliament, Mr Kyama describes a mixture of adrenaline rush and a deep-seated desire for systemic change.
‘One of the best days of my life’
"We needed change, so we were available to reject the Finance Bill 2024 and we presented ourselves, ready for that day," Mr Kyama said, reflecting on the decision to breach the heavy security.
"We never wanted the Finance Bill 2024 to pass, breaching Parliament was the best days of my life, the best memories I’ve ever made.”
In the proposed Finance Bill 2024, the government sought to raise an additional Sh346 billion in taxes to finance an ambitious Sh3.9 trillion 2024/2025 budget, a move that did not sit well with many young people, including Mr Kyama.
On that day, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula announced the final tally of 195 MPs who had voted in favour as 106 voted against with 0 abstentions, and three spoiled ballots. However, several opposition members walked out in protest.
The images of that day remain etched in the national memory, but Mr Kyama shares a surreal detail that few saw, the hunger of the revolutionaries.
Once inside the hallowed grounds, the protesters found their way to the Parliament kitchen.
"You can’t find food and you are angry and hungry and you refuse to eat," Mr Kyama explained with grim humour.
Gen Z protester, Ezekiel Kyama, during an interview at Nation Center in Nairobi on June 3, 2026.
"So we first served ourselves, we had lunch. That was the best lunch, but the food didn’t have salt.”
However, the levity of a saltless meal was quickly eclipsed by the carnage outside. Mr Kyama recorded a video from the Speaker’s gallery and posted it online, but the celebratory mood was short-lived.
The protests, while historic, came at a staggering human cost. Mr Kyama’s voice falters as he discusses the friends he lost on June 25, 2024. He describes it as one of the saddest days.
"If you kill the young generation, you don't have a generation for tomorrow," he lamented.
He noted that many of those who survived were left with life-altering injuries that have rendered them unable to work, confined to their homes.
For Mr Kyama, the sight of his peers dying in the streets was the ultimate proof of a government that had failed its most vital demographic.
He survived the carnage, vanished and went into hiding where he lived largely isolated from the public eye.
“If you go to hide, you don't expect visitors. After all, you don't have anyone to come to see you, because you are there alone with a few people that you found there,” he said.
Contrary to what many might expect, Mr Kyama claimed he was never lonely during this time. To ward off the despair that has driven many of his peers to suicidal thoughts, he immersed himself in self-improvement.
"I did some courses online, I got certificates, I got letters, recommendations," he said, noting that these achievements kept him busy and focused.
He speaks of a deep psychological struggle facing Kenyan youth today, many of whom feel they must run away from a government that should be protecting them.
"I have never had that thought to fly out," Mr Kyama asserted. "Why should I run from my motherland? I was there to remain, to stay.”
Fear for his safety
His defiance is rooted in a sophisticated critique of Kenya’s fiscal policy. He points to the 16 per cent VAT on bread and daily transactions as the catalyst for the middle class's collapse.
"If you raise taxes on the people, then you are killing the people," he argued. "If the middle class collapses, where do you expect our nation to be?"
The cost of his activism extended to his family. Mr Kyama revealed that his father had to halt certain business operations out of fear for his son's safety.
“You are my son, I cannot abandon you because you stood for your rights,” Mr Kyama recounted his father’s words.
This familial support was bolstered by a legal team. When asked about security threats, Mr Kyama remains confident, citing his representation by lawyer and Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino.
Gen Z protester, Ezekiel Kyama, during an interview at Nation Center in Nairobi on June 3, 2026.
"If you want me, you have to call my lawyer,” he challenged the authorities. “The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have these contacts. I have a legal team.”
As he re-emerges, Mr Kyama does not look back with regret. He confirmed his intention to be on the front lines of the planned protests against the Finance Bill 2026, particularly citing the 25 per cent tax on mobile phones as a direct attack on the young generation’s ability to communicate and organise themselves.
Beyond activism, Mr Kyama has set his sights on the August House, this time through the ballot.
"I have political ambitions. I’m the ‘Speaker of the people’, I will speak for my young generation. I want to speak for them. I cannot speak for them if I am outside the government. I want to be in that government," he added.
Looking ahead, in 2027 he envisions an election that will mark the end of older generation leadership and the handout culture.
"We want someone who will go to work for the people," he said. "We, the young generation, have the energy. The charisma is there and the ability is there.”
As the second anniversary of the June 25, 2024 protests approaches, Mr Kyama remains haunted by the abductions and the killing of youths. He remains a vocal critic of the government’s failure to compensate the families of those who died.
“Their parents have not been compensated. The government says, 'we have a plan.' What plan? You have not compensated them. You've had two years, and next year is an election year. If you don't compensate them, we'll stand tall and talk,” he said.
For Mr Ezekiel Kyama, 2027 is the year of new leadership. He envisions a nation where the youth no longer accept handouts from older politicians who then use tax money to "refund" their own campaign spending.
"We are ready to take over this country. We have the potential, we have the energy, and we have the votes" he declared.
His journey from the Speaker’s chair after invading Parliament to the political stage of 2027 is, in his eyes — a fulfillment of a promise to Gen Alpha — ensuring that those coming after him do not inherit a broken nation.
He stands ready to be the "Speaker of the People," no longer in the shadows, but in the halls of power he once entered as a protester.
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