Rigathi Gachagua, the son of murima, Kenya’s former Deputy President, is tossing and turning at night trying to figure out how to start his own political party. His big plan is to kick out anyone who is still backing the current government that seems to be sucking the life out of Kenya.

You can just imagine him scratching his head, wondering how to assemble his dream team after that lightning-fast impeachment. He still can’t wrap his mind around it. It is like a bad dream he has not woken up from yet.

The Mathira-born ex-district officer, who squeezed in one term as MP before making a shocking leap to Deputy President, is absolutely not alone in this high-flying political ride. Busia

Senator Okiya Omtatah is also wrestling with his own political demons. Demons he is eager to exorcise so he can kick the current regime to the curb in the next elections.

After all the government’s harassment, intimidation and downright evil tactics — from abductions to torture to, well, murder — Okiya is more determined than ever to launch his own political outfit that will shoot him to the presidency in 2027, with a loyal army of supporters and anyone else tired of the status quo.

You recall Morara Kebaso? He had, and I still believe, he has the ambition of bringing the change that Kenya has been longing for, like, forever. Thus, he went ahead and formed the Injekt Party so that like-minded youth could join in and, together, fight for the much-needed change.

Dear brothers and sisters, in all these three cases that I have briefly shared with you, along with the numerous examples you have probably encountered through your personal interactions, it is safe to say that in whatever we do, we all need to be part of a community, especially we the young people.

You might not be as interested in political seats as the examples I’ve given, but one thing stands unparalleled: the principles of community (diversity, inclusion, collaboration, empowerment, integrity, lifelong learning, etc.) remain the same.

As Gen Z, we tend to focus more on competing rather than collaborating. As the youth, we have fixed our minds on the idea of achieving great feats being an individual effort. Often, we neglect the idea that if you want to go fast, you go alone. But if you want to go far, you go together.

And there is no better way to bring this into reality than being part of a community. It is within a community that you share your ideas, brainstorm together and see those ideas get refined and strengthened.

No one, in this whole wide world can single-handedly shoulder the burdens of our societies. Think of gender-based violence, the ruthlessness of this government, global warming, corruption, mental health and every vice in between. All of these require a collective and concerted efforts to end them.

The draconian proposals in the 2024 Finance Bill would not have been stopped if the youth had not said enough is enough and taken to the streets. Most political changes in the country have happened because of our ideologies.

Therefore, I urge you all to be part of a community. Be part of something bigger than yourself. Support each other, build a network to challenge and share passion and values. The power to create the change we want is in our hands. It is through a community that we can achieve these and more.

— The writer is a Sub-Editor with People Daily; [email protected]