Written by Morris Aron

In Nepal, democracy went up in smoke — quite literally. Angry Gen Z protesters stormed and set fire to parliament. Days of rage turned into chaos, and the army marched in to “restore order.” Overnight, civilian authority was swept aside. What began as a youthful call for accountability ended with boots on the podium.

It is a haunting reminder of how fragile democracies really are. Constitutions may look solid on paper, but when institutions crack, street anger can quickly spiral into state collapse. The Nepalese story shows us a truth Kenya knows all too well: when politics loses legitimacy, the military rarely remains a silent spectator.

Now imagine a Kenya without the IEBC. Picture last June’s finance bill protests, led by Gen Zs, unfolding without a trusted referee for elections or any legitimate outlet for political grievances. Parliament was already under siege; offices of MPs were being ransacked. It would not have taken much more for that energy to tip from anger into outright anarchy.

A burning parliament in Nairobi would not just have been symbolic — it would have been an invitation for the army to step in under the pretext of saving the republic. And history tells us one thing: once soldiers seize power, they rarely surrender it easily.

The temptation of military rule is obvious. Decisions are quick. Political bickering disappears. There is a temporary sense of control. Yet the cost is devastating. Freedoms vanish. Media is muzzled. Opposition is crushed. Economies stall under sanctions, corruption, and inefficiency.

Kenya’s diverse and contested political landscape would make a junta especially messy. Ethnic loyalties, foreign pressures, and domestic resistance would pull the military in every direction, leaving the country weaker, poorer, and more divided.

Govt Decisions More Than Tactical Politics

That is why the government’s recent concessions were more than just tactical politics. They were, in truth, survival moves.

The shelving of the punitive finance bill calmed the fury in the streets. The dismissal of key Cabinet Secretaries signaled accountability. And the creation of a broad-based government spread legitimacy across divides.

These decisions may have looked like retreats, but in reality, they were strategic de-escalations. They kept the soldiers in their barracks. They preserved the right to protest without tipping into civil war. They bought the nation breathing space.

Things Kenya Still Has

Kenya today still has something Nepal has lost: choice. The ability to vote. The right to change leaders peacefully. It is a fragile privilege, one easily squandered. The protests showed just how close we came to the abyss. The reforms showed how delicate yet possible resilience can be.

The challenge now is to channel the fire of Gen Z and the broader citizenry into institutional reform rather than rage. To build stronger checks and balances, not just louder street battles. To use discontent to deepen democracy, not destroy it.

Lesson from Nepal

The lesson from Nepal is clear. Anger without outlets leads to collapse.

Reform, compromise, and inclusion — however messy they look in the short term — are what save democracies in the long term.

Kenya must guard this space jealously. For once democracy burns, it rarely rises from the ashes the same way again.

Aron is an ex-Deloitte economics and comms consultant, a StratCom Lead, and award-winning media personality with over 15 years experience. He can be reached at aronmaurice3@gmail.com