The 'Generation Z' demonstrations in Kenya these days, on the eve of the tourist season in Kenya, have caused many tourists, especially those unfamiliar with the reality of the African country and 'making a bundle out of all Africa', to doubt and fear that their already planned holiday could be ruined, if not made dangerous, by these events.
While maintaining all due caution, natural when visiting a foreign country and quite unknown in its folds, cancelling one's holiday, particularly if the destinations are Watamu or other coastal destinations, or national parks in the savannah, seems exaggerated and we explain why.

The history of this country, one of the most democratic and peaceful on the entire continent, teaches us that never during protests, even of a political and tribal nature, and not initially peaceful like this one, have tourists, as well as foreign residents, found themselves in dangerous situations, nor in forty years of 'mass tourism' have there been damages or accidents caused by protests or demonstrations.
We do recall in 2008 some incidental stone pelting of minibuses from Mombasa airport to seaside destinations. But besides talking about 16 years ago, let us recall that this was a unique case in the history of independent Kenya, in which post-election protests were compounded by internal and, above all, uncontrolled feuds in which even leaders and law enforcement agencies participated for mutual interests.
Below are the six main reasons why, in our opinion, you should not cancel your trip to Kenya.
1. ANNOUNCED DEMONSTRATIONS
One of the reasons why no foreign nationals have been involved in any way in the anti-government protests taking place in Kenya these days is that the days of agitation by Kenyan citizens are announced, they are not improvised, surprise and uncontrollable phenomena. On the contrary, it is part of the protest, to have visibility and encounter opposition from the forces of law and order. Therefore, already beforehand, in the case of, for example, Mombasa, which hosts one of the two international airports and could therefore cause some inconvenience to those arriving in Kenya from abroad, with a final destination in one of the coastal resorts, the areas and roads affected by the demonstrations and the possible alternative routes to be taken or proposed are known.

2. CONFINED AREAS
Even in the capital Nairobi, as in the other large and small towns in Kenya where protests against the finance bill and the government of President William Ruto have been held this past week, the areas and neighbourhoods where incidents have occurred are always circumscribed and marked, especially by the large police presence. To give an example, in yesterday's demonstration, the aim of the young demonstrators was to parade in front of the presidential palace, the 'State House', where there were no problems, with a peaceful sit and civil grievances. The incidents (and gunshots) occurred in the working-class neighbourhoods that are not frequented by tourists anyway (Kirinyaga Road, Ongata Rongai, Githurai) and in the centre (CBD), which was already completely closed.

3. INTERNAL PROTESTS, FOREIGNERS RESPECTED
We will never tire of saying that Kenyans are a welcoming and basically peaceful people. The country's history, compared to the unstable and violent situations in neighbouring nations, proves this. Particularly in these demonstrations, which concern an internal problem, foreign tourists and residents are not only not considered, but there is a kind of solidarity towards them, due to the fact that they are beside themselves at a difficult time in the country. This situation has been personally verified, including by the police, who maintain a protective and collaborative attitude towards foreigners, as well as the demonstrators, especially when showing them solidarity with their (albeit peaceful) demands and the protection of their rights.

4. SMALL PERCENTAGE OF KENYANS INVOLVED
What the media reports, are large crowds unleashing violence, on the sidelines of peaceful demonstrations as can happen anywhere in the world, with slogans, flags and a sense of brotherhood to advance their reasons and demands. In reality, the chaos and violence generated that ends up in the newspapers and on television, is created by a very small part and above all by 'infiltrators' who do not represent at all the soul of the country, nor even the proponents of the anti-government protests of these days. Kenya is a wonderful country, populated by over 50 million people and three times the size of Italy. A few thousand troublemakers, who are, moreover, closely marked by the police and the army, certainly cannot start a civil war, as they have never done in the country.

5. TOURIST SITES NOT AFFECTED
As we have repeatedly said, even in the only time in recent years when Kenya has faced riots, and moreover in that circumstance not as predictable and circumscribable as this one, i.e. in 2008 after the presidential elections, the places frequented by tourists, such as national parks in the savannah and marine destinations (Watamu, Malindi, Diani, Nyali) remained calm, and no incidents occurred. The only inconvenience could be the road route to get to the tourist 'bubbles', in case of events and related incidents, some deviations from the original route could create some delays on the schedule. But even these days, in Mombasa for example, we have witnessed 'cordons' by the police to ensure the passage of vehicles and even between Watamu and Kilifi, in Timboni and in the Malindi airport area, where stones were placed on the asphalt and bonfires lit, the police immediately intervened to clear the road and their presence automatically made the perpetrators of the roadblocks disappear.

6. PROTESTS NEITHER TRIBAL NOR POLITICISED
Unlike in the case of general elections and disagreements between leaders and communities, the June 2024 protests and incidents in Kenya are not tribal in nature, nor are they led by a political force, thus creating contrasts between citizens that can erupt into uncontrolled and uncontrollable violence, even involving the police and army in different reactions according to regions and ethnicity.
In this case we are in the presence of a protest organised by young people, with wide social and media prominence, pacifist slogans, ('mobile phones not stones') and recommendations by the organisers to address their messages to the political class. These are not factional clashes for reasons unrelated to demonstrating for one's rights, in this case the cost of living.