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Mudavadi: It’s time to have an honest conversation with our youth

“We, the politicians, are the biggest culprits. We have been talking down to young people instead of engaging them."

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by FELIX KIPKEMOI

News25 July 2025 - 16:16
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In Summary


  • He, however, cautioned the youth against the growing misuse of digital platforms and emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence.
  • Mudavadi also warned against attempts to glorify violence or militarism as a form of alternative leadership.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi address participants during a meeting in Nairobi on July 24, 2025/OPCS

Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi has urged leaders to shift their mindset and start engaging youth meaningfully in shaping the country’s future.

Mudavadi underscored the importance of involving the youth, who he said make up over 75 per cent of Kenya’s population, in national discourse and decision-making. 

Speaking during a fundraising dinner hosted by the A-Kili Foundation in Nairobi, the PCS stressed that the country can no longer afford to sideline its young citizens, describing them as a vital force for Kenya’s transformation.

“This is not just about empowerment, it is about rethinking how we see and speak to our youth,” he said, adding that they are not a burden but are the solution.

He rallied support for initiatives focused on equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to transform not only their own lives but also the communities around them.

“Let us embrace the journey ahead with courage, compassion, and a shared commitment to the Foundation’s mission,” Mudavadi said.

Mudavadi urged fellow politicians and leaders to change how they engage with the youth, saying the biggest challenge in national discourse is the lack of respectful and inclusive communication.

“We, the politicians, are the biggest culprits. We have been talking down to young people instead of engaging them in meaningful conversations,” he said.

To affirm the capability of young people, the PCS cited several examples from history. He mentioned William Pitt, who became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the age of 24, and Jesus Christ, who lived and spread the gospel before he died at 33.

“I became a Cabinet Minister at 28, and Minister for Finance at 33. I think I can exercise some bragging rights, I was at the centre of opening and liberalising the economy of this country. Many of the benefits we enjoy today, including services like Safaricom, emerged from those reforms,” he said.

Mudavadi noted that the time had come for Kenya to recognise its youth not merely as dependents but as strategic assets who must be nurtured and entrusted with national development.

“Let us change the narrative. Let us stop portraying young people as a problem. They are the solution. They will be the ones to define and build Kenya’s future,” he said.

Recalling his earlier years in public life, the Premier shared an encounter with a former Member of Parliament from Aldai Constituency, whom he described as one of the towering political figures of his youth.

He narrated how, during a harambee event, the MP introduced a new concept called “BSS,” the Brain Settlement Scheme.

“He told us, land is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. At independence, there were settlement schemes that allowed families to move and acquire land. But today, the only viable settlement scheme for young people is BSS,” said Mudavadi.

He elaborated that this scheme, unlike land, is in unlimited supply, affordable, can be distributed democratically, and is free of tax.

Most importantly, it offers every young person an opportunity to succeed through intellectual effort and personal initiative.

“If you fail to plough, you cannot blame the hoe. To me, that’s what the A-Kili Foundation is doing in empowering young people to till their minds and move forward,” he said.

He, however, cautioned the youth against the growing misuse of digital platforms and emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence.

He warned that they are increasingly being used to distort reality and mislead the youth.

“There are hard truths we must confront. Artificial Intelligence is now being used to spread falsehoods and manipulate facts. Let us not fall into the trap of allowing our youth to be swayed by lies or illusions,” he said.

Mudavadi also warned against attempts to glorify violence or militarism as a form of alternative leadership.

“Let us not mislead our young people into believing that someone with a pistol around their waist is providing better leadership. That path leads to instability,” he said.

He stressed that despite its imperfections, civilian and constitutional governance is always superior to military regimes. He reminded the audience that Kenya’s Constitution, passed by 70 per cent of voters in a national referendum, guarantees regular elections and orderly governance.

“With civilian government, you can predict when elections will be held. That predictability is the strength of democracy. Let us protect our Constitution, reform our institutions, and strengthen them to serve the people more effectively,” he said.

Mudavadi noted that the collapse of public institutions poses the greatest threat to any nation, and urged Kenyans to work towards institutional accountability, transparency, and reform, not abandonment.

The fundraising dinner, organised by the A-Kili Foundation, brought together a cross-section of national and county leaders, development partners, civil society organisations, and private sector players committed to youth development and social innovation.

Mudavadi encouraged Kenyans to support such initiatives and avoid complacency in the face of growing social and economic challenges facing the youth.

“Take a deep breath, take one step backward, and then move forward. But let us never allow ourselves to create the wrong perception or lose direction,” he said.

He expressed his appreciation to the Akili Foundation for its impactful work since 2011, and to all who contributed, not just through pledges, but through a heartfelt commitment to real change.

“A special word of gratitude to Hosea Kili, Founder, Chairman, and Trustee of the Foundation, whose unwavering dedication to philanthropy has been transformative. Alongside his wife, Mama Secilia, Kili has led countless initiatives that continue to touch lives across our nation, with passion, resolve, and an enduring spirit of service,” said Mudavadi.

Since its establishment, the A-Kili Foundation has reached over 5,000 young people across Kenya through structured mentorship programmes, digital skills training, entrepreneurship incubation, and community leadership development.

The Foundation continues to expand its partnerships and programmes, with a vision to create a generation of conscious, capable, and future-ready citizens.

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