Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged African youth to step forward and claim leadership roles immediately, warning that those waiting for future chances risk missing out. Speaking at the IGAD Leadership Academy graduation in Nairobi, he declared that young people are today's leaders, not tomorrow's.
At the Annual Graduation Ceremony of the IGAD Leadership Academy held at the Windsor Hotel in Nairobi, former President Uhuru Kenyatta encouraged African youth to show boldness and commitment in leadership. He dismissed the notion of "leaders of tomorrow" as misleading, stating, "If you continue to believe that you are leaders of tomorrow, then that tomorrow will never come. You are leaders of today. Your ideas, your boldness, and your personal dedication will determine Africa's future."
He reminded participants that past Kenyan leaders like Tom Mboya and Kenneth Matiba began their contributions in their twenties, emphasizing that youth is no barrier to major change. The event, themed 'Strengthening youth leadership to drive Africa's growth,' brought together graduates, ambassadors, and regional leaders, including IGAD Secretary General Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu and Senator Crystal Asige.
Kenyatta praised young people across the region for their actions on social and human rights issues, noting their unity as evidence that Africa's revival has begun. He described the gathering as a movement of dedicated young leaders aiming to transform the continent. Dr. Workneh stressed investing in youth as the foundation for lasting peace and regional unity, pointing out that Horn of Africa challenges stem from human decisions, and the next generation must be prepared to make better ones. "If we want to achieve true regional cooperation, we must first enhance the intellectual capacity of our youth," he said. "Their destinies are interconnected, and our region's future depends on how they learn to work together from today."
Senator Asige urged young leaders to approach leadership with depth, purpose, and spiritual grounding, achieving excellence through humility and hard work. Other speakers included Finland's Ambassador to Kenya, Riina-Riikka Heikka, and Japan's Deputy Ambassador to Kenya, Tomonobu Hori.
