Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on young Africans to take charge of leadership roles without delay, emphasising that waiting for the future to grant them power risks missing their moment.

Speaking at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD Leadership Academy (ILA) Annual Alumni Conference held at Windsor Hotel in Nairobi, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Uhuru stated that the idea of “leaders of tomorrow” can be misleading, and that the youth are already capable of shaping Africa’s future.

“If you continue believing you are the leaders of tomorrow, that tomorrow will never come,” he said. “You are the leaders of today. Your ideas, your courage, and your personal commitment will shape the future of Africa.”

Uhuru drew attention to Kenya’s early leaders, such as Tom Mboya and Kenneth Matiba, noting that they began influencing the nation in their twenties.

He argued that youth is not a barrier to making a meaningful impact, urging young leaders to act boldly and contribute to Africa’s progress today.

The meeting

The conference, themed Harnessing Youth Leadership to Drive Africa’s Growth, gathered alumni of the IGAD Leadership Academy, members of the diplomatic corps, and regional leaders, including IGAD Executive Secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu and Senator Crystal Asige.

The event celebrated the emergence of a new generation of ethical, collaborative African leadership and showcased young people across the region taking initiative on social and humanitarian issues.

IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu stressed the importance of investing in young leaders to ensure lasting peace and regional unity, pointing out that the challenges facing the Horn of Africa result from human choices and that the next generation must be prepared to make better decisions.

“If we are to achieve real regional cooperation, we must first cultivate the minds of the youth,” Dr Workneh said. “Their destinies are intertwined, and the future of our region depends on how well they learn to work together today.”

Crystal Asiges remarks

Senator Crystal Asige also encouraged the youth to pursue leadership with purpose, depth, and a strong ethical foundation, highlighting the value of humility and hard work as cornerstones of true success.

The conference featured additional speakers, including Finland’s Ambassador to Kenya, Riina-Riikka Heikka, and Tomonobu Hori, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Kenya.

The event comes at a time when the fourth head of state has been actively advocating for youth involvement in leadership, emphasising their critical role in driving Africa’s growth and shaping the continent’s future.

While speaking during a Jubilee grassroots mobilisation event at Thika Green Gardens in Murang’a on Friday, November 7, 2025, the fourth president emphasised the need for young people to be included in positions of power so that they can determine for themselves the kind of Kenya they want and how they want it to be run.

“The youths must be allowed to take positions of leadership so that they are in a position to determine for themselves how they wish Kenya to be. Sio wewe kuja kuwaambia ati itakuwa hivi; wenyewe wanajua ile Kenya wanataka,” Uhuru said.