Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on young Africans to step into leadership roles now, warning that waiting for the future to confer power risks wasting their most impactful years.
Speaking on December 17, 2025, at the IGAD Leadership Academy (ILA) Annual Alumni Conference held at Windsor Hotel in Nairobi, Kenyatta told delegates that Africa’s transformation cannot be postponed to a distant tomorrow.
“If you continue believing you are the leaders of tomorrow, that tomorrow will never come,” Kenyatta said. “You are the leaders of today. Your ideas, your courage, your personal commitment will shape the future of Africa.”
The former Head of State reminded the audience that some of Kenya’s most influential figures, including Tom Mboya and Kenneth Matiba, began shaping national discourse in their twenties, proving that youth is not a limitation to leadership or national impact.
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. Among the dignitaries present were IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu and nominated Senator Crystal Asige, as participants celebrated a new generation of ethical, collaborative African leadership.
In his keynote address, Kenyatta praised young people across the region for taking initiative on social, humanitarian, and development challenges. He said their growing unity and cross-border collaboration demonstrated that Africa’s renewal is already underway. He described the ILA alumni network as “a movement of young leaders committed to transforming the continent.”
IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu underscored the importance of investing in youth leadership as the foundation for lasting peace and regional cohesion in the Horn of Africa. He noted that the region’s challenges are the result of human decisions, not destiny, and said the next generation must be empowered to make better choices.
“The purpose of the IGAD Leadership Academy is to bring together brilliant young minds to learn from one another and build networks that transcend borders,” Dr. Workneh said. “If we are to achieve real regional cooperation, we must first cultivate the minds of the youth. Their destinies are intertwined, and the future of our region depends on how well they learn to work together today.”
Senator Crystal Asige challenged young leaders to approach leadership with depth, purpose, and spiritual grounding. She urged them to pursue excellence that is impossible to ignore, stressing that meaningful success is built on humility, discipline, and hard work.
Other speakers at the event included Ms. Riina-Riikka Heikka, Ambassador of Finland to Kenya, and Mr. Tomonobu Hori, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Kenya. They echoed the call for inclusive, youth-driven leadership as a catalyst for sustainable development and regional stability.
The IGAD Leadership Academy continues to position itself as a key platform for nurturing young African leaders capable of driving cooperation, peace, and growth across the region.
