Kindiki: Youth must lead fight against corruption and division
By Kiprono Keileb, July 31, 2025Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on young people to take centre stage in confronting corruption, tribalism, and political incitement, warning that Kenya’s future depends on their courage to reject forces threatening national cohesion.
Speaking during a youth forum held on Thursday, July 31, 2025, in Irunduni, Tharaka Nithi County, Prof. Kindiki described the youth as the hope, present, and future of the country and a vital shield against the enemies of progress.
“The youth are the hope, present and future, of any country and the defence against those who want to endanger the collective sustainability and prosperity of the nation and its communities by acts of corruption, tribalism, or incitement to violence,” he told a gathering.
His message came with a firm appeal for vigilance and unity, as he urged the youth to resist manipulation and instead champion a values-based future.
Kindiki outlined what he described as the government’s most impactful investment: enhancing access to education and creating more job opportunities.
“The biggest and most powerful investment Kenya will ever make is the improvement of the education system and increasing the job and income opportunities for its young people,” he said.
He highlighted major achievements over the past three years, including the recruitment of 76,000 teachers, the construction of 23,000 new classrooms, and a significant increase in enrollment in the technical institutions, from 297,000 to 700,000 students.
“During the past 3 years, the government has ensured employment of 76,000 teachers, built 23,000 classrooms, increased the enrollment in technical training institutions from 297,000 to 700,000 students, and introduced the recognition of prior learning system and the dual training policy, as well as perfected the system for funding university education,” he added.
On economic empowerment, Kindiki outlined a raft of government initiatives aimed at curbing youth unemployment. These initiatives include the Affordable Housing Programme, Kazi Mtaani, digital job platforms, and international labour mobility programs. He emphasised that such efforts are designed to ensure “gainful engagement for young people locally, virtually, and abroad.”
The CS also unveiled a fresh government plan dubbed the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program, which he said will launch within a month. The initiative is designed to support youth-led enterprises across the country.
”The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program, to be launched in the next month, will train and provide 70 micro and small businesses from each electoral ward in Kenya with a grant of 50,000 shillings for expansion,” he said.
Kindiki was speaking after a town hall engagement that brought together university students, tertiary-level trainees, graduates, and grassroots youth group leaders involved in sports, entrepreneurship, and community development.
His message reinforced a recurring theme in government: the need to create inclusive spaces for young people in both leadership and economic growth, while dismantling systems that have historically excluded or exploited them.
“We must empower the youth not just as beneficiaries, but as leaders of transformation,” he said.
The Tharaka Nithi visit comes at a time when the government faces growing pressure to address economic disparities and youth unemployment across the counties. For Kindiki, the answer lies in education, jobs, and the moral courage of a new generation.
“This country’s prosperity depends on whether young people rise not just in protest, but in leadership,” he concluded.