Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on Kenyan youth to show greater respect for authority and remain open to mentorship from older generations, stressing that life’s most valuable lessons often extend beyond the classroom.
Speaking at the 2025 National Prayer Breakfast held at Safari Park Hotel, Kindiki emphasized the need for mutual respect between the younger and older generations, advocating for a culture of learning, humility, and intergenerational dialogue.
“We respectfully request our children also to respect authority and agree to be mentored and supported,” said the Deputy President. He noted that while formal education plays an essential role in personal development, many life lessons can only be learned through lived experience.
Kindiki underscored that respect must be mutual. Adults, he said, must also treat young people with dignity and take responsibility when they fall short. “We need to treat our children respectfully, and when we go wrong, it is not wrong to speak to it,” he stated, encouraging openness and accountability among leaders and elders.
The Deputy President urged youth to acknowledge the wisdom that comes with age, even if it’s not immediately obvious. “They should equally respect older people, even if not for any other reason, simply because they are older and there are things you may not learn in any college but only in the school of life,” he added.
Kindiki also invoked classical philosophy, quoting Socrates’ famous dictum: “An unexamined life is not worth living.” He encouraged leaders and citizens alike to reflect on their actions and decisions in the quest to build a better Kenya.
His message comes amid a national discourse on the strained relationship between the youth and the political leadership, highlighting the need for healing and dialogue across generations.
Written By Rodney Mbua
