President William Ruto has hailed the potential of education to unlock the vast potential in the country’s young population.

Speaking on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, during the President’s Award Kenya Gold Award Presentation Ceremony at State House, Ruto lauded the significant role of education in preparing young Kenyans to take their place on the global stage and realise their dreams.

Investment in education

“These stories remind us that leadership is not defined by titles alone but by service; that success is measured by the change we create; and that, with guidance and opportunity, young Kenyans can rise from any background to shape their future, their communities, and their organisations,” he stated.

Ruto added that the potential informed the government’s plans to invest further in education and leadership through service.

“As I listened to these young people, they reinforced my belief in the capacity of Kenya to be better than it is today. We are undertaking transformation to ensure we invest resources in education, training, and mentorship of our young people,” he said.

“Education and youth empowerment are central to the youth agenda. Over the past years, we have built more than 23,000 classes across Kenya and are also committed to scaling up our research to better equip our learners,” he added.

Optimism

The president concluded by imploring the youth to reject the tendency to adopt a pessimistic view of their country and instead embrace optimism and action.

The ceremony, themed “Shaping Young People’s Character and Encouraging Purposeful Interaction,” was attended by Muhoho Kenyatta, Trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation and Chair of its Africa Region.

A total of 1,252 students were among the awardees at the State House event. presided over by the president

“We are proud of the 1,252 awardees who have demonstrated sustained resilience, commitment, and leadership, qualifying for the Gold prize. Hongera!,” Ruto said in a statement on his Facebook page.

The beneficiaries and awardees of the program implored the program to be expanded for a wider impact and expanded reach.