Two nations, a common struggle: How youth unrest in Bangladesh and Kenya catalysed uprisings

As Bangladesh simmers after the violent quelling of student-led protests demanding a reform of the government’s quota system for jobs, a similar upheaval has been unfolding thousands of kilometres away in Africa.

In Kenya, a country of 54 million known to many Bangladeshis for its once-prominent cricket team and players like Steve Tikolo and Maurice Odumbe – who have competed in Dhaka’s domestic leagues – a wave of youth-led unrest emerged almost concurrently with the student-led protests in Bangladesh in July.

In late June, what began as a peaceful protest against proposed tax hikes in Kenya, grew into a widespread campaign for accountable governance, ultimately transforming into an anti-government movement demanding the resignation of the incumbent administration.

It mirrors the situation in Bangladesh where the student-led protests that began in early July escalated into a broader anti-government movement calling for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and labelling her an “autocrat”. The protests were sparked after the quota system reserving 30% of the government jobs for the children of freedom fighters was reinstated.

In both countries, long-standing frustration with the economy and the government’s perceived indifference to the struggles of ordinary citizens has been mounting for a long time. In Bangladesh, with a gross domestic product of $460 billion – more...

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