Popular radio presenter Anne Njogu has raised concerns over a growing trend among Gen Z Kenyans, who have taken to joking about death ahead of the June 25 protests. The media personality criticised the light-hearted and dark humour shared by young people online, warning them to be cautious with their words and not to trivialise something as serious as death.
June 25, 2025, marks the first anniversary of last year’s Occupy Parliament demonstrations, where lives were lost. In the lead-up to this year’s protests, many Gen Z TikTok users have posted humorous takes on what would happen if they died during the demonstrations. Some have gone as far as planning “eulogy photoshoots” and referencing death as if it were just another trend.
But Njogu believes the joke has gone too far. Taking to her platform on Radio Maisha, she expressed her unease with the content circulating on social media, stating that life should never be joked with. She pointed out how some youth were referring to having lunch at State House and supper in Sayuni (heaven), implying they expect to die during the protests.
“Gen Zs, if there is something I don’t like to joke with, it’s life. I am very careful with what I say because I believe in the power of the tongue. Why are you joking with death?” she questioned.
Njogu recalled how many young people even found solace in the idea that, should they die, their families would be compensated, referencing the reported KSh 2 million paid to the family of late protester Albert Ojwang. She, however, urged them to reflect on the real pain that death brings to those left behind.
“If you have ever lost a loved one, you will not be happy about death. Some of us wish our parents were still alive,” she added, pointing out how her own experience with loss influences her views.
Her remarks sparked a flurry of responses online, with some users defending the jokes as a coping mechanism, while others echoed her concerns. Many acknowledged the generational shift in how death and danger are discussed publicly, especially in a tense political climate.
Despite the backlash, Njogu stood by her belief in the “power of the tongue”—a popular African proverb suggesting that what one speaks can come to pass. She warned that joking about tragic outcomes might lead to unintended consequences.
As the nation braces for the planned demonstrations, her message serves as a sobering reminder of the gravity of the moment. While Gen Z continues to shape protest culture with creativity and defiance, voices like Njogu’s call for a more mindful and respectful approach to life, death, and everything in between.
