Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged young people to stand up for good governance and shun short-term political gains.
Mr Kenyatta, who has adopted a more activist tone after stepping down in 2022, has recently struck a chord with Gen Z, pledging to raise the political consciousness of the young population.
Describing the period as an "independence moment", he said the youth were the last line of defence in the battle to save the heart and soul of Africa for the sake of future generations.
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta at the second annual Guild Leaders’ Summit 2025 held at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.
Photo credit: Pool
Delivering the keynote address at the second annual Guild Leaders' Summit 2025 at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, Mr Kenyatta urged the youth to embrace their role as freedom fighters of this era.
“You have the numbers, you have the time and you have the energy to get involved and stay involved in governance discussions until you effect the changes you wish to see,” he noted.
Mr Kenyatta highlighted Africa's demographic advantage, with more than 65 percent of its population under the age of 25, as a key opportunity to break free from cycles of division and corruption.
He emphasised the urgent need for integrity-driven leadership and self-reliance to address the continent's pressing challenges.
"Young leaders should embrace merit-based governance, where policies serve long-term national interests," he stated.
Reflecting on the current global landscape, the former Head of State noted the changing dynamics in which developed nations are increasingly looking inwards, leaving Africa to chart its own course.
Citing Africa's challenges as a clarion call for youth-led transformation, he called on young Africans to seize the moment as architects of a self-reliant and united continent.
“No one is coming to save us, and as the world turns increasingly inward, the places to seek refuge are rapidly disappearing," he told the audience, made up largely of student leaders, academic stakeholders and policymakers from East Africa.
Addressing economic barriers, Mr Kenyatta highlighted the untapped potential of intra-African trade, which remains below 2.5 percent of global trade.
He called for the removal of barriers to free movement and trade, and stressed the need for Africa's youth to harness innovation and unity to unlock opportunities.
Participants at the second annual Guild Leaders’ Summit 2025 held at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.
Photo credit: Pool
Mr Kenyatta reminded the audience that universities are incubators of change and that student leaders are the custodians of tomorrow's Africa. “History has often been written by the powerful, but the future will be shaped by the principled,” he stated.
Uganda's Vice President Jessica Alupo, who also graced the occasion, emphasised that the transformation of the continent depends on their collective commitment to unity, pan-Africanism and relentless hard work.
"As you Guild Leaders meet here; you must embrace unity. You must embrace the spirit of pan-Africanism. You must embrace the spirit of hard work," she declared.
Acknowledging the gap between rhetoric and implementation, Ms Alupo urged young people to move beyond words and take concrete steps towards progress. "It is very easy to say what I'm saying, but more often than not, it is a bit difficult to make implementation on a collective level."
The summit, hosted by Makerere University's Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, marked a pivotal moment for East Africa's youth to redefine their role in a world where global solidarity is waning – and African agency must rise.
