Social Movement and Economic Reforms in Africa; A Study of Kenya and Nigeria

The surge of extensive protests that have taken place across Africa since 2020 is concerning and centers on demands for improved socioeconomic conditions, elections, and human rights abuses. This indicates that lingering issues and persistent challenges are fueling these demonstrations, particularly as it was estimated that 577 protests occurred in West Africa alone in 2020. Thus, the study was conducted to analyze social movements and economic reforms in Africa, focusing on Kenya and Nigeria. The paper utilizes the relative deprivation theory and made use of both quantitative and qualitative data. Utilizing data acquired from primary and secondary sources, the research revealed that the protests in Kenya stemmed from the dissatisfaction among citizens regarding the economic situation and the government’s perceived disregard for their struggles, which has been escalating for years. Triggered by contentious proposed tax increases, the movement expanded into a broader campaign for enhanced governmental accountability. Some individuals are calling for the resignation of the entire government. The protests against poor governance can be linked to the implementation of economic reforms, particularly the elimination of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the Naira following the removal of its peg to the US dollar under President Bola Tinubu, which aimed to liberalize the Nigerian economy and draw in foreign investment. Additionally, the protests in Kenya and Nigeria exhibited a violent aspect, with recent mass demonstrations culminating in chaos. The findings also indicated that the social movement had significant effects on the socio-political and economic advancement of both nations. Numerous lives were lost during the protests. Properties valued in millions of naira were damaged across the two countries. The study further indicated that the Kenyan government’s response was praiseworthy, as it acquiesced to the public’s demands by announcing the withdrawal of the finance bill. In contrast, the Nigerian government’s reaction to the protests on August 1st was rapid, with security forces deployed in significant numbers throughout various cities. Consequently, the government, as indicated in the President’s address, did not yield to any of the protesters’ demands. The paper suggests that the Nigerian and Kenyan governments should establish social safety nets and welfare initiatives for their citizens to provide immediate assistance to the most vulnerable groups, ensuring their access to fundamental necessities, thereby reducing occurrences of social movements that lead to the destruction of lives and property, which hinders socioeconomic development.