NAIROBI, Kenya — Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged a fundamental national paradigm shift, calling for a dedicated conversation with Kenya’s burgeoning youth population.
Mudavadi highlighted that young people aged 35 and below constitute over 35 million individuals, representing approximately 75 percent of Kenya’s total population, underscoring the critical need for robust engagement and their inclusion in national decision-making processes.
Speaking at a fundraising dinner hosted by the A-Kili Foundation in Nairobi, Mudavadi emphasized that this shift should focus on how the country approaches youth empowerment.
He advocated for intellectual investment as the most sustainable tool for building Kenya’s future, rallying support for initiatives that equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to transform both their own lives and their communities.
“Let us embrace the journey ahead with courage, compassion, and a shared commitment to the Foundation’s mission,” said Mudavadi, who also serves as the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
Mudavadi specifically urged politicians and leaders to re-evaluate their engagement with the youth, identifying the lack of respectful and inclusive communication as a significant challenge in national discourse.
“We, the politicians, are the biggest culprits. We have been talking down to young people instead of engaging them in meaningful conversations,” he stated, advocating for a more deliberate effort to listen to youth and integrate them into decision-making, rather than simply lecturing or marginalizing them.
To underscore the capabilities of young people, the PCS cited historical examples, including William Pitt, who became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at 24, and Jesus Christ, who lived and spread his message before his death at 33.
Recalling his own early career, Mudavadi shared, “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.”
Mudavadi asserted that it is time for Kenya to recognize its youth not merely as dependents but as strategic assets crucial for national development, who must be nurtured and empowered.
“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 declared.
The Premier recounted an encounter from his early public life with a former Member of Parliament from Aldai Constituency, whom he described as a towering political figure of his youth.
During a harambee event, this MP introduced a 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,” Mudavadi explained.
He elaborated that, unlike land, this scheme is in unlimited supply, affordable, democratically distributable, tax-free, and most importantly, 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 noted.
However, Mudavadi also cautioned the youth against the growing misuse of digital platforms and emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, warning that they are increasingly being manipulated to distort reality and mislead.
“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 warned.
Furthermore, Mudavadi cautioned against attempts to glorify violence or militarism as alternative forms of 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 stressed.
He underlined that, despite its imperfections, civilian and constitutional governance is inherently superior to military regimes. He reminded the audience that Kenya’s Constitution, overwhelmingly approved by 70 percent 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 urged.
Mudavadi concluded by noting that the collapse of public institutions poses the greatest threat to any nation, urging Kenyans to strive for institutional accountability, transparency, and reform, rather than abandonment.
The fundraising dinner, organized by the A-Kili Foundation, convened a diverse group of national and county leaders, development partners, civil society organizations, and private sector stakeholders dedicated to youth development and social innovation.
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Mudavadi encouraged Kenyans to support such initiatives and remain vigilant against complacency in the face of escalating social and economic challenges confronting 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 advised. He expressed profound appreciation to the Akili Foundation for its impactful work since 2011, and to all contributors, not just for their pledges, but for their heartfelt commitment to genuine change.
“A special word of gratitude to Dr. Hosea Kili, Founder, Chairman, and Trustee of the Foundation, whose unwavering dedication to philanthropy has been transformative. Alongside his wife, Mama Secilia, Dr. 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 inception, the A-Kili Foundation has mentored over 5,000 young people across Kenya through structured programs encompassing digital skills training, entrepreneurship incubation, and community leadership development.
The Foundation continues to expand its partnerships and programs, driven by a vision to cultivate a generation of conscious, capable, and future-ready citizens.
