Investigative Journalist Tom Mukhwana Joins Hosts to Explore the Future of Youth Activism Across the Continent
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As Gen Z-led protests continue to surge across Africa—from Kenya’s #RejectFinanceBill and Nigeria’s #EndSARS to Sudan’s sit-ins and South Africa’s Fees Must Fall movement—the Panel 54 podcast returns with a timely and provocative new episode titled “Gen Z Rising — Protest, Power, and the Fight to Be Heard.”
In Episode 4, hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with respected investigative journalist Tom Mukhwana of Africa Uncensored to dissect the forces behind this generational wave of activism. The conversation explores not only what’s fueling these uprisings, but also what might be limiting their long-term impact.
Watch Episode 3 :
Mukhwana raises critical questions about the sustainability of youth-led movements, which are often highly visible online but struggle to maintain momentum offline. He warns of the growing risks of political co-optation, where youth voices are absorbed or manipulated by established powers, and performative allyship support that is more symbolic than substantive.
The episode also challenges the widely circulated narrative that Gen Z movements are “leaderless.” While this characteristic has helped movements stay decentralized and inclusive, it has also presented challenges in terms of coordination, strategic planning, and achieving tangible policy outcomes.
Hosts and guest alike point to a growing disconnect between digital activism and real-world change. While online platforms have amplified youth voices, the lack of supporting offline infrastructure, such as civic education programs, community organizing frameworks, and rural engagement strategies, has hindered deeper political transformation.
Adding a futuristic lens, the episode touches on how AI tools and digital peer-to-peer education are emerging as critical enablers of civic participation. But even with these tools, the consensus is clear: the next political victories will be determined not just on social media, but in rural grassroots communities where meaningful change is built from the ground up.
“Today’s youth activists know how to trend, but not how to transition,” says Mukwhana.
“We benchmark outrage, but not outcomes,” adds host Waweru Njoroge.
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