Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged the youth to stop walking with their heads high, presuming they know it all, for it is an unattainable feat to claim mastery over everything.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony at Ollessos Polytechnic in Nandi County on Friday, January 31, 2025, Kindiki remarked that he had witnessed videos of youth on television proudly asserting that there was nothing they could be told or advised about.

He noted that most of those he saw were proclaiming their omniscience, explaining why they had no time to listen to anyone.

This is when he began imparting his wisdom, cautioning them against such presumptuous thinking, as it is inconceivable that they could know everything and simultaneously reject the idea of being taught, while feeling qualified to advise others on every matter.

“What I notice is that some of the youth who were appearing in the media were saying there is nothing these people can tell us, we know everything. There is nothing we don’t know. So, it is not possible that you know everything, can’t be told anything, and are the only one who can tell us everything,” he shared.

Know-it-all generation

Kindiki then lamented that the current generation has contributed to the moral challenges facing the country, attributing this to the prevalent know-it-all mentality.

He pointed out that technological advancements like the internet have led some to believe they possess an upper hand over others, but he cautioned that the vast expanse of information available online is not always credible.

The former Tharaka Nithi senator then used himself as an example, encouraging the youth to learn from him. He hailed that despite holding the office of Deputy President, he still demonstrates respect and deference to older individuals who, though not holding his position, possess knowledge he does not.

He emphasized that the youth should not misconstrue his comments as an attack on their capabilities but instead understand that his words were meant to guide them toward becoming valuable assets to the country.

“Let’s not be a generation of know-it-alls. You know everything but you can’t be told anything, yet you can tell everyone everything because you’ve Googled. You have the internet, and everything is on Google. Much of that information there is not verified in that Google thing. And number two, there is a school of life.”

Chances at corruption

In a sharp pivot, the deputy president, also the chief guest at the ceremony, took aim at the youth for their recent anti-corruption protests, revealing his belief that many of them were merely biding their time, waiting for their own opportunity to cash in on corruption once they rose in the ranks.

This sobering reality, Kindiki said, must change. He called on the youth to be responsible stewards of the nation, leaving behind a better country for their children.

The deputy president underscored the need for the youth to hold themselves accountable, urging them not to shy away from confronting corruption in all its forms—whether perpetrated by the older generation, often criticized by the youth, or by themselves in the future.

“We must tackle corruption across all generations,” he declared.

“The corruption of the older generation is just as harmful as the corruption of the future generation. Both are equally damaging, and we must not allow either to destroy our country.”

He encapsulated his message with a powerful call for ethical standards, stressing that there are no shortcuts to success.

“I know many young people complain about corruption, yet some of them are just waiting for their turn to become part of the corruption system. We must all condemn this intergenerational corruption,” Kindiki asserted, warning that the future of the country depends on the integrity of today’s youth.