Deputy President Kithure Kindiki urged young people not to shy away from demanding good governance and accountability from the country’s leadership, assuring them that the government would respond proactively to their concerns.
However, he urged young people to avoid violence in their pursuit of a better Kenya, and cautioned them against being exploited by government critics, whom he accused of seeking to destabilise the country.
“Ask us and everyone in leadership the hard questions. Demand better services. If you think we are not handling public affairs correctly, hold us to account. But I plead with you: do not allow yourselves to be misused to destroy your country, because that would defeat the very purpose of expressing your concerns,” he said.
Prof Kindiki made these remarks when he met with youth leaders, artists, content creators, and musicians from Embu County at his Irunduni home in Tharaka Nithi County, emphasising the crucial role of young people in shaping the nation’s future.
"Don’t allow older people to misuse you to destroy your future. You need a peaceful country and a strong economy so that, once you have finished school, you can either find employment or start a business in a supportive environment,” he said.
Speaking to young people and musicians from Embu at Irunduni in Tharaka Nithi, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki asked the youth to avoid violence as they push for a better country.
Photo credit: George Munene | Nation
The DP’s remarks come at a time when youth-led protests have rocked the country to demand better governance.
On June 25, during Gen Z anniversary demonstrations, several people were killed and property worth billions of shillings destroyed as police clashed with protesters. On July 7, youth again staged demonstrations to mark Saba Saba Day, recalling the 1990 agitation for free and fair elections.
Prof Kindiki assured the youth that the Kenya Kwanza administration is addressing their challenges, with unemployment being the main focus.
He added that the government is also tackling corruption and the misuse of public resources in order to secure sustainable socio-economic growth.
“We have come up with programs to reduce the number of jobless young people as we tackle unemployment head-on. This is a historic challenge which we have decided to address through deliberate interventions,” he said.
Among the initiatives he cited were the Kazi Kwa Ground programme, which creates opportunities through affordable housing projects, the construction of modern markets and hostels, and the expansion of the education sector by recruiting more teachers.
He explained that the Kazi Mtandaoni programme equips young people with digital skills to help them take advantage of online job opportunities, while the Kazi Majuu programme has already enabled thousands of young Kenyans to find employment abroad through bilateral labour agreements.
“This is how to transform Kenya. You can't just point out a problem without offering a solution. We are providing real answers to the jobs challenge, rather than just lamenting it. That is the difference between us and our opponents,” he said.
Regarding education reforms, Prof. Kindiki said that President William Ruto’s administration has overhauled the system to align learning with present-day challenges and needs.
The rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in lower, junior and senior secondary schools, alongside reforms in tertiary and university education, is intended to make education more relevant, affordable and accessible, while improving quality.
“We are working hard to ensure our education system prepares young people to seize opportunities and contribute meaningfully to the country’s growth,” he added.
