As we come to the close of the year 2025, we have had an interesting year full of notable events, major wins, and big losses, especially the elders we lost in the public sphere. Our guest Zahid Rajan walks us through the key highlights of the year just to recap what has been a very eventful year 2025 and what these events have meant for the citizens and the country.

What happens after the protests? How do you translate protests into policy? In this episode, Shakira Wafula walks us through the various strands that give the active citizen a pathway to reform, even as they build on the recent Gen Z revolution.

Edwin Shamir joins Yusuf Wanjala to discuss why Gen Z must move from street protests to shaping policy, exploring how their energy, frustrations, and aspirations can drive meaningful public debate and future leadership.

As Gen Z looks ahead, the focus is shifting toward consolidating the gains of the revolution and translating momentum into lasting political power. In this episode, we speak with Sophie Mugure, a Gen Z leader preparing to vie for the Thika Town seat in the 2027 elections. She breaks down what it will take to get more young people on the ballot and the steps needed to make that vision a reality.

At the height of the Gen Z protests, a network of dedicated professionals came together to meet the movement’s diverse and evolving needs. In this episode, we sit down with Joshua Okayo, a leader, lawyer, and activist, who shares his insights on the movement’s wins, losses, gains, and the direction it is poised to take.

Two years on from the Gen Z revolution that reshaped the country’s political landscape, much has been said and written about its impact. While many have since moved on, a core group of pioneers and changemakers continues to carry its torch, fueling hope through their platforms, projects, and collaborations. In this interview, we meet Keith Ang'ana, whose initiatives have created vibrant spaces for dialogue, debate, and community among his peers.

On September 17-18 2025, the Civic Freedom Forum held a two-day Civic Space Protection Summit in Nakuru, a gathering focused on the challenges faced by civil society and human rights defenders. The summit served as a platform for various stakeholders to discuss the increasing threats to fundamental freedoms such as expression, assembly, and association. A key concern raised was the "weaponization of the law" and digital surveillance. The summit underscored the importance of protecting civic space as a cornerstone of democracy. The keynote speaker, Okiya Omtatah, urged vigilance as we develop strategies to counter these threats, strengthen civic organizations, and advocate for greater accountability as we gear up for 2027.

In this episode, we converse with Prof. Maria Nzomo about what Gen Z misses by bypassing formal institutions, and that achieving policy leverage is not only through protests, but also through formal engagement, to embed their demands into frameworks like Kenya’s Public Participation Act. They will also need to hybridise their quest through protest and litigation by using courts to enforce rights, as well as electoral infiltration by running for political offices and supporting their peers who vie.

The current political moment is forcing many spaces where power is exercised and visualized to reckon with the Gen Z revolution. And as Prof. Karuti Kanyinga clarifies, in this interim window, some old truths remain salient; that we need to take the youths seriously, listen to their demands and train them to lead the country in the now and the near future.

In this episode of our Intergenerational Solidarity series, we sit down with Martha Karua, a trailblazer, advocate, and political icon, for a candid and insightful conversation on leadership, integrity, intergenerational responsibility, and what it takes to stand firm in the face of adversity. From her early days in activism to navigating Kenya’s political landscape, Karua reflects on her journey and shares wisdom for the next generation.