Welcome to The Pulse by Kasi - a weekly newsletter on what Africans think, want and do, in real time.
From Gen Z-led protests redefining power to tariff shocks reshaping trade, financial rebounds in Kenya, and the launch of Kasi AI, Africa stands at the intersection of disruption and data-driven transformation.
✊🏾 Gen Z Uprising Across Continents: From Morocco to Kenya, youth-led protests are demanding justice, jobs, and accountability. Kasi Insight data shows Kenya’s Gen Z confidence at record lows, a clear warning for governments to act before discontent deepens.
🌍 Tariff Turbulence: New U.S. tariffs replacing AGOA threaten Africa’s competitiveness, pushing nations to fast-track AfCFTA integration and build resilient value chains.
🏦 Kenya’s Financial Rebound: Between March and July, loans, insurance, and mobile money surged as millennials and affluent consumers regained confidence, marking a cautious yet promising recovery.
📈 Consumer Caution Persists: Across Africa, inflation keeps households cautious. Modest sentiment gains hide deep inequalities, reminding brands that trust and tangible value remain key.
🤖 Introducing Kasi AI: Kasi Insight unveils the next phase of decision intelligence — transforming thousands of consumer interviews into real-time insights that power strategy and foresight for African businesses.
💡 One takeaway: Africa’s transformation will be driven by its youth, shaped by data, and sustained by resilience. Those who listen, adapt, and lead with intelligence will define the next decade.
Gen Z Ignites Global Fire: Protests Sweep Morocco, Madagascar, Peru, and Kenya
Generation Z is fueling a global uprising, channeling economic despair, systemic corruption, and climate inequities into powerful protests across Morocco, Madagascar, Peru, and Kenya. United by smartphones, TikTok, and One Piece pirate flags, this digitally native generation demands systemic change. By October 2025, their "Gen Z revolt" has toppled Nepal’s leadership and Madagascar’s government, with Morocco, Peru, and Kenya under intense pressure.
The why is clear: crushing unemployment (35% in Morocco, 25% in Peru), neglected services, and eroded trust. In Kenya, Kasi Insight’s "One year on, the warning signs behind Kenya’s Gen Z protests are louder" report reveals a year of unrelenting pessimism post-2024’s #OccupyParliament, sparked by the Finance Bill, leaving 65 dead and forcing Ruto’s veto. By May 2025, 82% of Gen Z saw the country heading wrong, with job prospects plummeting to –87 and income confidence at –79. The June 2025 death of blogger Albert Ojwang in custody reignited protests, with 16 more killed, fueling demands for justice. Morocco’s youth protest hospital deaths amid World Cup spending; Madagascar’s fight blackouts in a 75% poverty nation; Peru’s challenge Boluarte’s 2.5% approval.
The impact is seismic: governments face concessions, arrests, and stalled reforms. Social media amplifies this borderless rebellion, echoing Bangladesh’s 2024 upheaval. With 60% of Africa’s population under 25, Gen Z’s resolve signals a new era of power redefinition.
Read our full analysis on Kenya’s Gen Z protests and their implications for systemic change on our website 👉 One year on, the warning signs behind Kenya’s Gen Z protests are louder - Kasi Insight
Geopolitics and Economics
📅 One year after #OccupyParliament Kenya’s Gen Z still battles job despair, falling income confidence and brutal policing, so today they march on State House for justice and real change ✊🏾🗣️💔
🔍 Read more
💼 The U.S. administration’s new universal tariff policy has upended decades of trade access for Africa. By overriding AGOA, tariffs now range from 10% to 40%, hitting major exporters like South Africa, Libya, and Ghana. The shift threatens competitiveness but also pushes Africa to diversify trade and strengthen regional ties under AfCFTA. For African economies, this is a wake-up call to build resilience, value chains, and fairer partnerships in a changing global market.
🔍 Read more
Retail & FMCG
📈🔎 In August, consumer confidence in Africa edged higher, but gains were modest and uneven. Households showed slight relief in finances and spending, yet caution continues to define decision-making. Brands must focus on trust and tangible value heading into Q4.
🔍 Read more
Finance & Banking
📊 Kenya’s financial appetite is back on the rise! Between March and July, Kasi Insight’s RDI shows strong growth in loans, insurance, investments, and mobile money 💳📈 Millennials and high-income earners are driving the rebound, while mobile money continues to anchor inclusion 🌍💡
🔍 Read more
🚀 Introducing Kasi AI
The next phase of our mission to transform thousands of consumer interviews into powerful decision intelligence.
📅 Date: 16th October 2025
🕒 Time: 08:00AM EST | 12:00PM GMT | 02:00PM SAST | 03:00PM EAT
Join us for an exclusive webinar with Yannick Lefang, Founder & CEO of Kasi Insight, and be the first to experience:
✅ The Kasi story & vision for Africa
✅ Our AI journey brought to life
✅ A live demo of Kasi AI in action
✅ How to turn consumer data into boardroom impact
👉 Don’t miss this opportunity to see how Kasi AI is redefining decision intelligence in Africa.
🚀 Unlocking Growth Through Decision Intelligence in Banking Masterclass
Join industry leaders Janice Kemoli (Brand & Marketing Advisor) and Yannick Lefang (Founder & CEO, Kasi Insight) for an exclusive in-person session at JW Marriott, Nairobi on November 6, 2025.
📌 Limited to 20 seats only!
💰 KES 95,000/seat – Enjoy 20% OFF if you register by October 15
🎓 Includes Certificate of Completion + optional post-class coaching
Secure your spot today and gain insights from 50+ years of combined leadership in FMCG, Banking, and Strategy across Africa and beyond.
Contact us to find out how our data empower decision makers like yourself in Africa
