Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on young Africans to reject short-term political gains and take up the mantle of leadership to safeguard the future of the continent.
Speaking at the second annual Guild Leaders’ Summit held at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, Mr Kenyatta delivered a passionate keynote address, urging youth to view themselves as the new freedom fighters in a pivotal era he termed Africa’s “independence moment.”
“You have the numbers, you have the time and you have the energy to get involved and stay involved in governance discussions until you effect the changes you wish to see,” he told the packed auditorium of student leaders, academics, and policymakers from across East Africa.
Since stepping down from office in 2022, Mr Kenyatta has adopted a more activist stance, focusing on raising political consciousness among Africa’s youth. His message has resonated especially with Gen Z, a demographic that increasingly demands accountability and reform.
He emphasized Africa’s demographic advantage, noting that over 65 percent of the continent’s population is under the age of 25—an untapped resource that could transform governance and development.
A Continent at a Crossroads
Mr Kenyatta painted a stark picture of the current global order, warning that as developed nations become more inward-looking, Africa must rise to its own challenges. “No one is coming to save us,” he cautioned. “As the world turns inward, the places to seek refuge are rapidly disappearing.”
He called for the dismantling of trade and movement barriers within Africa and stressed the importance of unity, innovation, and integrity-driven leadership. “Young leaders should embrace merit-based governance, where policies serve long-term national interests,” he said.
Universities as Change Incubators
Mr Kenyatta also underscored the role of academic institutions as incubators for leadership and progress, urging student leaders to see themselves as the custodians of Africa’s future.
“History has often been written by the powerful, but the future will be shaped by the principled,” he stated.
A Call for Pan-African Unity
Uganda’s Vice President Jessica Alupo, who also addressed the summit, echoed Mr Kenyatta’s sentiments. She challenged youth leaders to move from rhetoric to action. “It is very easy to say what I’m saying, but more often than not, it is a bit difficult to make implementation on a collective level,” she noted.
Ms Alupo urged participants to embrace unity, pan-Africanism, and relentless hard work as the building blocks of transformation. “You must embrace the spirit of hard work,” she said, emphasizing that the transformation of Africa is a shared responsibility.
The Guild Leaders’ Summit, hosted by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy at Makerere University, served as a critical forum for East African youth to reimagine their role in shaping a self-reliant, united, and forward-looking continent.
As the applause faded, the message remained clear: Africa’s youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are the changemakers of today.
