Let youth shape Kenya’s development
President William Ruto speaks at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) during the launch of the National Conversation Beyond 2030 on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
As Kenya considers its future and a new national development vision, young people must be at the centre of the process.
They should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries or leaders of tomorrow, but as builders of the future today. Young people bring fresh ideas, creativity, energy and an understanding of an increasingly interconnected world. Their access to education, technology and information gives them perspectives that can strengthen national planning and policymaking.
Giving them space to participate meaningfully in decision-making could unlock innovative solutions to many of the country’s challenges. The decisions made today will shape how Kenyans live, work and interact for generations.
Poorly conceived policies and development plans can deepen unemployment, increase the cost of living and result in inefficient use of public resources. Well-crafted plans, developed with young people at the centre, can expand opportunities, improve livelihoods and promote economic growth.
Yet young people are often excluded from planning and decision-making, partly because they are considered inexperienced. This can result in programmes that fail to reflect their needs and are neither owned by nor sustainable for the communities they are intended to serve.
Youth participation should therefore begin at the earliest stages of policy and development planning. Kenya needs platforms where young people can engage in constructive dialogue on issues affecting them and the wider society.
The development of a new national vision, particularly one that will succeed Vision 2030, cannot be left to a few experts. It should be an inclusive national conversation involving young people and other stakeholders.
Young people should have a more visible role in shaping policies, standards and practices in education, employment, healthcare, security and economic development.
Kenya’s future must be shaped with, not merely for, its youth.
By placing young people at the centre of national development, the country can become more inclusive, sustainable and better prepared to tackle future challenges and seize emerging opportunities.
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Mr Obonyo is a public policy analyst. [email protected]
