ICT CS William Kabogo [KABOGO/X]In a light-hearted moment during the launch of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) Strategic Plan 2025–2029 in Nyeri on Friday, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo amused the audience with a humorous account of how Gen Z youth had poked fun at him online.
He recounted how some young creatives had designed and circulated memes of him sitting in an office with his trousers noticeably hiked up, a fashion detail they exaggerated for comic effect.
“Juzi niliona wamenichora memes. Wakanichora kwa ofisi nimeketi suruali imeinuka juu ni kama hao suruali ukiketi hainuki,” Kabogo said amid laughter.
"The other day, I saw they had made memes about me. They showed me sitting in the office with my trousers pulled up, as if trousers don’t ride up when you sit down," Kabogo said amid laughter."
Despite the viral wave, he took no offence.
“Ikawa sina neno. Ikatrend kama siku tatu ya nne ikakosekana nikashindwa sasa hawa jameni wameenda wapi tena,” he said, noting the trend lasted three days before disappearing, leaving him wondering where the creators had vanished to.
Kabogo used the anecdote to illustrate the immense creativity and reach of Kenyan youth online, especially Generation Z, and the need to nurture such talent.
He recalled another incident where a young person walked into his office with a self-made meme, a bold move that not only impressed him but also earned the creator Sh20,000 on the spot.
Kabogo said such digital creativity, even when humorous or critical, should be seen as an opportunity to engage youth in productive ways and harness their skills for national development.
He emphasised the need for institutions to invest in digital
innovation and support youth in turning their online talents into viable
careers.
Earlier in May, the ICT CS addressed a trending online meme with humour, offering light-hearted remarks during the 2025 Annual Media Summit.
Referring to a viral image that exaggerated how high his trousers were while seated, Kabogo said he glanced around the room to check if any other men had trousers touching their shoes and found none.
“I looked at the trousers of other men here to see if any were touching the shoes—I found none. But Kenyans, that’s just how they are,” he said.
