Why Is This Happening? Today, protests have moved online to TikTok, X, and WhatsApp. People no longer criticize leaders; they wish death to them, share AI-made photos and videos showing politicians in coffins or at mock state funerals. These fake pictures spread fast, shared with captions like “God do it for us”, “Your time is coming,” or “God is not asleep.” Behind the humour lies something deeper; pain, anger, and hopelessness.
After Raila Odinga’s death, Ruth Odinga made a statement that revealed how far things have gone. She said, “Raila died knowing that the Gen Zs preferred him dead. Gen Zs are now pouring their love for him when he is dead… For those who said those things when he was still alive, it was really wrong.” Her words were heavy. They showed that even Kenya’s most respected figures are not spared from cruel online behaviour, even from those who once admired them.
We have seen this pattern again and again. When a politician from Homabay was shot, some people online celebrated. When Beatrice Elachi’s son passed away, cruel messages replaced condolences. And when Raila Odinga’s death was announced, AI-generated videos showing his “final moments” circulated widely. Some laughed, others mocked, and a few stopped to think about the pain behind those moments. This shows how bitterness has taken root among citizens.
Many Kenyans, especially the youth, feel abandoned. They are jobless, over-taxed, and tired of corruption. When peaceful change feels impossible, anger takes a darker form wishing for leaders to die becomes a way to feel “heard.” AI tools can now make fake videos and photos that look real. These images spread faster than the truth.
Unfortunately, social media platforms reward content that shocks, not content that teaches.
Hate becomes viral and people join in without thinking. Over time, leaders stop being seen as human. They become symbols of greed and pain. When that happens, people stop caring even death becomes entertainment.
This kind of protest does not bring change. It only deepens hate and divides us further. True protest demands better leadership, it doesn’t celebrate death. When we lose empathy, we lose our values as Kenyans and as Africans. Yes, our anger is justified. People have been killed in protests.
Families suffer because of failed health systems and corruption. But when we cheer death, we are not fighting injustice, we are feeding it.
Our leaders must rebuild trust through honesty and action. They must listen, reform, and serve. But citizens, too, must protest with conscience. We can shout, we can demand, we can even cry out in anger, but we must never celebrate death. A society that laughs at death today may stop caring about life tomorrow. Protest should heal the nation, not curse it. We can choose to demand justice without losing our humanity.
