By Eddah Waithaka
NCCK’s 4th National Youth Convening ends with a bold communiqué demanding action on jobs, digital access, mental health and governance
Young people from across Kenya have issued a sweeping demand to government, the private sector and civil society: move beyond rhetoric and build the systems that let youth thrive.
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) hosted the 4th National Youth Convening from September 21 to 25, 2026, drawing young people and stakeholders under the theme “Claiming Spaces and Shaping Kenya.” Delegates closed the five-day summit with a communiqué that challenges leaders to treat young people as citizens and partners, not as a population to manage or voters to mobilize every election cycle.
“We cannot be told to innovate and create while the systems around us remain difficult to navigate,” the delegates declared.
Youth Reject Election-Time Tokenism
The communiqué takes direct aim at the way political leaders engage young Kenyans. Delegates rejected being “mobilized during elections or called upon to vote” and demanded continuous participation in policy development, public participation, oversight and leadership.
As Kenya approaches another electoral cycle, the convening affirmed peaceful, issue-based political participation and condemned misinformation, disinformation, political manipulation and ethnic mobilization.
“If we do not organize, we will agonize,” the youth warned, committing to claim civic space responsibly and hold institutions accountable beyond election periods.
A Space for All, Not Just the Connected
Delegates framed technology as an everyday reality, not a luxury. They pointed to the entrepreneur using WhatsApp to reach customers, the graduate job-hunting on digital platforms, the person with a disability using assistive technology, and the innovator solving community problems with available tools.
But the convening warned that access to technology does not automatically translate into opportunity. Young people still battle the high cost of devices and internet, unreliable power, limited digital skills, weak mentorship, scarce capital, certification hurdles and restricted access to markets.
The youth called for technology that “connects rather than excludes, creates opportunities rather than deepening inequality, and serves people while protecting dignity.”
From Hustle to Sustainable Enterprise
Delegates celebrated the creativity and energy of young Kenyans but acknowledged a hard truth: many hustle daily to survive without building enterprises that can grow and employ others.
Young businesses, the communiqué notes, struggle with cash flow, customer retention, taxation, record-keeping, registration and licensing. Founders without collateral or networks fail to access financing, mentorship and partnerships.
The convening also urged stronger protection for creative work, calling for greater awareness of intellectual property, ownership and royalties so creators benefit from the value they produce.
AI Brings Opportunity and Responsibility
The youth welcomed artificial intelligence and emerging technologies but flagged concerns over data privacy, digital safety, misinformation, AI-generated errors, child protection and over-reliance on machines.
“Technology must strengthen, not replace human responsibility,” the communiqué states.
Delegates urged investment in digital literacy and critical thinking, arguing that young people should not simply consume technology but be equipped to create with it.
Address the Conditions, Not Just the Crisis
In one of its most personal sections, the communiqué acknowledged that youth challenges are “not only economic or political—they are also deeply personal.” Unemployment, rising living costs, repeated rejection, financial pressure and social expectations are eroding young people’s sense of dignity.
The convening raised alarm that distress often hides behind productivity and social media pressure, with struggling youth wrongly labelled lazy, rebellious or unfocused.
Delegates called for a shift from crisis response to prevention stronger support systems, safe spaces for honest conversations, professional care and livelihood approaches that strengthen the whole person.
The youth directed their demands at government, the private sector, civil society, faith institutions and development partners, urging them to invest in practical skills, mentorship, financing, markets and networks.
They also extended an olive branch across generations, offering to combine the experience of older Kenyans with their own energy and innovation.
“Claiming spaces means more than occupying them,” the communiqué concludes. “It means using them to create value, solve problems and influence the future. This is our space. This is our responsibility. This is our Kenya.”
The 4th National Youth Convening ran from September 21 to 25, 2026, under the auspices of the National Council of Churches of Kenya.
