Margaret Kenyatta rallies support for youth music empowerment drive
By Aloys Michael, June 6, 2026Former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has called on stakeholders to strengthen support for youth empowerment through music and the arts, citing the success of Ghetto Classics as proof that strategic investments in young people can transform lives and communities.
Speaking on Saturday, June 6, 2026, during the Ghetto Classics Charity Golf Tournament at Migaa Golf Club in Kiambu County, Kenyatta urged partners, sponsors and well-wishers to continue backing initiatives that create opportunities for vulnerable children and youth.
Kenyatta, who serves as Patron of Ghetto Classics, said the programme’s 18-year journey demonstrates the impact of combining talent development with mentorship, education and social support.
“What began as a bold vision has grown into a movement that continues to transform the lives of young people, families, and communities,” she said.
Founded under the Art of Music Foundation, Ghetto Classics has grown into one of the country’s leading youth empowerment initiatives, using music education to provide opportunities for children from underserved communities.
The programme currently supports more than 1,500 young people through musical training, scholarships, mentorship, food assistance and social welfare interventions.
She said the initiative has evolved beyond music instruction into a platform for social transformation.
“Ghetto Classics is not simply a music programme. It is a story of hope, discipline, courage, and transformation,” she said.
“It uses the power of music to change lives, especially for young people living in underprivileged communities.”
She noted that many graduates of the programme have gone on to perform on national and international stages, secure scholarships and travel abroad, with some returning to mentor younger musicians.
The former First Lady emphasised that supporting such programmes is not merely an act of charity but an investment in the future of young people and their communities.
According to her, empowering children through music helps build confidence, nurture talent, and inspire hope among families while creating broader social and economic opportunities.
On her part, Ghetto Classics Founder Elizabeth Njoroge echoed the call for continued support, saying music remains a powerful tool for opening doors that would otherwise remain closed to many children.
“Music opens doors for our children that they would not ordinarily walk through. At the end of the day, we are going to change Kenya through music,” she said.
The charity golf tournament brought together partners, sponsors and supporters to raise resources for the programme and reaffirm a shared commitment to expanding opportunities for young people through the transformative power of music.