Kenya is at a turning point, and young people stand at the heart of this change. In the second episode of the Mwelekeo TV Podcast, Angel Mbuthia, a respected student leader and policy expert, joins the conversation to bring light to pressing issues around youth, gender, governance, and Gen Z activism.
The discussion is carefully supported by research from Mwelekeo Insights, adding depth and clarity to the challenges facing Kenya and demonstrating why the role of young people in shaping governance can no longer be overlooked.
Angel Mbuthia recalls the lessons from the 2024 Gen Z protests. These demonstrations revealed the fierce determination and bravery of Kenya’s young citizens.
They went beyond resisting particular government decisions they were a way to show that young people can and should lead in charting the country’s course.
Through their actions, they proved that governance cannot remain the sole domain of older generations, it needs to open up to the younger majority that is often left out, yet has both the energy and the vision to move the nation forward.
She explains why it is so crucial to include youth in the governance process.
For too long, decisions have been made without meaningful input from young people. This has left them alienated, even though they are often the ones most affected by those very decisions.
Mbuthia argues that Kenya’s future success depends on how sincerely its leaders create space for youth participation. She points out that Mwelekeo Insights’ research supports this view, showing that when young people are included in policy decisions, they bring innovative ideas, renewed energy, and fresh solutions, ideas and energy that can reinvigorate how Kenya addresses its challenges.
The episode goes further to explore the struggles young people face when stepping into political spaces.
They often confront barriers such as lack of funding, limited access to political platforms, and being dismissed as inexperienced.
These obstacles make it difficult to be seen or heard in traditional power structures.
But for Mbuthia, these challenges are not a reason to give up; rather, they underline the need for structural reforms.
She makes a powerful point that these barriers should not silence the youth. Instead, they should prompt a rethinking of how governance is structured so it can truly include and empower young voices rather than pushing them to the margins.
Another key theme in the conversation is how Kenya’s future can be shaped by young people’s innovation and accountability.
Mbuthia emphasizes that youth are not only imagining a better Kenya, they are actively working to build it.
Through activism rooted in community connection, through creative efforts that solve real problems, and through leadership that inspires others, they are showing that they can carry real responsibility.
Mwelekeo Insights adds through their findings that when this youthful creativity is encouraged and supported, it can lead to meaningful change not only addressing today’s issues but preparing Kenya to stand stronger tomorrow.
Kenyans are encouraged to watch, learn, and become part of the conversation on the country’s next chapter.
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