By John Mutiso
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has issued a call to young Africans to take up leadership responsibility immediately.
Speaking during the IGAD Leadership Academy (ILA) Annual Alumni Conference on Tuesday, December 16, he challenged the long-held notion that young people are ‘leaders of tomorrow.’
Uhuru warned that such thinking encourages hesitation at a time when Africa urgently needs bold, values-driven leadership
He reminded delegates that Kenya’s early political trailblazers, including Tom Mboya and Kenneth Matiba, began influencing national direction in their twenties, underscoring that age has never been a barrier to impact or transformation..
“If you continue believing you are the leaders of tomorrow, that tomorrow will never come. You are the leaders of today. Your ideas, your courage, your personal commitment will shape the future of Africa,” he said.
Uhuru applauded young people across the region who are taking initiative on social and humanitarian issues, noting that their unity proves Africa’s renewal has already begun.
He described the gathering as “a movement of young leaders committed to transforming the continent.”
The conference themed Harnessing youth leadership to drive Africa’s growth, brought together alumni of the IGAD Leadership Academy, members of the diplomatic corps and regional leaders.
The leaders present were IGAD Executive Secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, Senator Crystal Asige among other dignitaries in celebration of a new generation of ethical, collaborative African leadership.
In his address, Workneh emphasised on the importance of investing in young leaders as the foundation for lasting peace and regional unity.
He noted that the challenges facing the Horn of Africa are not caused by fate but by human choices, and that the next generation must be equipped to make better ones.
Speaking about the purpose of the ILA, he said the goal was to bring together brilliant young minds to learn from one another and build networks that transcend borders.
“If we are to achieve real regional cooperation, we must first cultivate the minds of the youth,” Workneh said.
“Their destinies are intertwined, and the future of our region depends on how well they learn to work together today.”
Senator Asige challenged the young leaders to approach leadership with depth, purpose and spiritual grounding.
She encouraged the youth to pursue excellence so remarkable that it cannot be ignored, reminding them that true success begins with humility and hard work.
Other speakers at the event included Ms Riina-Riikka Heikka, Ambassador of Finland to Kenya and Tomonobu Hori, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan-Kenya.
