Kibwana: Youth are pushing Kenya to rethink leadership beyond politicians
By Kiprono Keileb, August 11, 2025Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has urged Kenyans to take seriously the growing voice of the youth, saying they are the country’s best hope for a genuine reset in governance.
Speaking on a local radio station morning show on Monday, August 11, 2025, Kibwana said young people are challenging the nation to pause, reflect, and decide whether leadership should remain the preserve of politicians.
“All the reports from ’64, whether it is the Ndungu report, Anan report, PPI, or NATCO, show us that a time will come when we will be tired of such things and we will look inward for real. The young people are forcing us to pause and decide whether we want to look inward, but I think we have not accepted that opportunity,” Kibwana said
Kibwana noted that Kenya has, for decades, faced persistent challenges of misgovernance, disregard for the constitution, and entrenched corruption, yet has continued to repeat the same cycles. He believes the youth are now stepping into a critical role, one that could help the nation confront these deep-rooted problems without relying solely on traditional political leadership.
“I still hope that we are going to look inward so that we can say, given where our country is, why we continue to have this problem of misgovernance, not following the constitution and corruption. We need to genuinely look inward,” he said.
According to Kibwana, part of the solution may lie in creating spaces where problem-solving is not led exclusively by politicians. He suggested that independent, citizen-driven processes could be more effective in addressing Kenya’s systemic failures.
“If it is something that can be done without politicians, then that could help us. The first people to help us look inward are our youth.” Kibwana said
His remarks come at a time when young Kenyans are increasingly active in public discourse, using digital platforms, civic movements, and grassroots organising to demand accountability from leaders. Kibwana’s comments resonate with a growing sentiment that the country must break away from leadership patterns that have failed to deliver meaningful change.
By highlighting the youth as catalysts for transformation, Kibwana is calling on the nation to embrace fresh perspectives and to allow new voices to shape Kenya’s political and governance future, even if that means stepping beyond the political class.