A New Front in a Global Culture War

A fiery protest erupted at the University of California, Berkeley, on Monday, November 10, 2025, as the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) held a campus event. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered, chanting anti-fascist slogans and clashing with police in a scene that has become emblematic of the deep political polarization gripping the United States. The event was part of a national tour held in memory of TPUSA's founder, Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September 2025. While TPUSA's operations are focused within the US, its aggressive tactics and role in America's escalating 'culture wars' offer a critical case study for understanding the changing nature of youth activism globally, including in Kenya.

Who is Turning Point USA?

Founded in 2012 by then 18-year-old Charlie Kirk, TPUSA's stated mission is to promote principles of free markets, limited government, and individual liberty on high school and university campuses. The organization has grown into one of America's largest and most well-funded conservative youth groups, with a reported revenue of $85 million in 2023 and a presence on hundreds of campuses. TPUSA is known for its provocative campus events, often featuring high-profile conservative speakers, which are designed to challenge what it terms "leftist indoctrination" in academia. Critics, including the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League, accuse the organization of promoting divisive rhetoric, engaging in harassment campaigns against professors through its "Professor Watchlist," and aligning with hard-right and Christian nationalist ideologies.

The Kenyan Context: A Different Kind of Activism

While there are no official TPUSA chapters in Kenya or the broader East Africa region, the nation has its own long and potent history of student activism, often referred to as 'Comrades' Power'. Unlike the culture-war focus of TPUSA, Kenyan student movements have historically mobilized around issues of national governance, democratic reform, and economic justice. In the 1970s through the 1990s, students at institutions like the University of Nairobi were at the forefront of protests against the single-party state, demanding multiparty democracy and accountability. More recently, the 2024 youth-led protests against a controversial government finance bill, organized largely on social media, demonstrated a new wave of tech-savvy activism focused on economic policy and government transparency. This movement, often branded as the 'Gen-Z Revolution', has been characterized by its leaderless structure and its ability to transcend traditional ethnic and political lines, demanding accountability on issues like the cost of living and taxation.

Contrasting Battlegrounds

The core issues animating youth activism in Kenya stand in stark contrast to those championed by TPUSA. While Kenyan youth protest for economic opportunities and against state repression, TPUSA's campaigns focus on issues central to the American right, such as opposition to abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in universities. This divergence highlights a critical difference in political priorities. Kenyan activism, as seen in organizations like the Youth For Kenya Movement, is often centered on securing fundamental social and economic rights and ensuring government accountability. TPUSA's activism, meanwhile, is a product of a highly polarized American society where battles over cultural identity have become a central political arena.

Global Trends and Local Implications

Despite the different contexts, the rise of organizations like TPUSA holds lessons for Kenya. The group's effective use of social media, its ability to mobilize and energize a specific youth demographic, and its significant impact on national political discourse are tactics that transcend borders. As global interconnectedness grows, the ideological battles fought on American campuses can influence political discourse worldwide, including among Kenyan youth who are highly active online. Understanding the dynamics of these movements is crucial for anticipating future trends in political mobilization. While the specific grievances may differ, the broader struggle for the direction of society, amplified by a new generation of activists, is a shared global phenomenon.