How a WhatsApp group planning demonstrations against Kihika went from #SusanMustGo to #SusanMustStay

For almost a month now, anti-government protests have taken centre stage every Tuesday. 

The weekly protests, which began as a protest against the 2024 Finance Bill, slowly shifted its focus to county governance.

Here in Nakuru, conversations on Ocuppy Nakuru heated up and degenerated into a protest against County Governor Susan Kihika.

The drums of revolution were loud in the voter-rich areas of Naivasha and Kuresoi, where residents complained of discrimination in development and corruption in the counties.

Social media was awash with the hashtags #OccupyNakuru and #SusanKihikaMustgo, with a WhatsApp group even being formed to push the agenda.

But despite all the pressure to demonstrate for Governor Kihika's removal, the county's residents seem unable to translate social media threats into real action.

Plans seem to die before they are realised as they are rocked by disagreements.

A Whatsapp group that planned demonstrations against the governor two weeks ago was taken over by her supporters and changed from Susan Must Go to Susan Must Stay and then to Status of the County 32.

Members of the group who appeared to have anti-governor views were immediately removed from the group.

The conversation in the group shifted from the original topic to blame games between supporters and non-supporters of the county regime.

Other members began to use the platform to share their feelings about other members.

A user named Mitchkim expressed his disappointment at the turn of events and blamed members for a lack of focus.

"I knew this was not going to work when people were mixing their emotions and hatred instead of issues and I muted myself to watch," Mitchkim said.

Another, Cosmas Rono, suggested that there could be no demonstrations without funding.

"I have told you that people are paid to demonstrate, nothing is free, only fools will follow others without asking for benefits," said Cosmas Rono.

Faiz Abubakar claimed to have foreseen the development, noting that it was a normal occurrence in the quest for change.

"I know the movement was started by visionary people who saw a greater good in standing up against bad governance. But as always, these individuals must come along, speak ill of the people behind the movement, weaken its activities and then you go and enjoy the 'good' services of your waheshimiwa. Guess what, life is like that and freedom is never free. You'll be betrayed, you'll be scolded, you'll be threatened. But that's the price you pay for standing up to illegitimate rulers. Ulafi hauna aibu," said Faiz Abubakar.

At the moment, the group is used for random discussions and to share random updates on issues happening across the country.