By Eddah Waithaka
Yesterday, the 1st Executive Working Session of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Regional Youth Forum (ICGLR-RYF) commenced at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete. This event brought together youth leaders from all 12 member states to strengthen Africa’s first institutionalised youth peace body.
“We now have a home,” says Jacob Eyeru, President of the ICGLR-RYF from Uganda, standing alongside his fellow executive members. “The Government of Kenya offered to host our Secretariat in 2014 under President Uhuru Kenyatta. Ten years later, we finally hold our first working meeting with an operational base here.”
Kenya Leads Africa in Youth Peace Infrastructure
The ICGLR Regional Youth Forum operates as the only institutionalized, semi-independent youth body on the African continent. Unlike the African Union’s youth ambassadors or IGAD’s youth envoy programs, this forum runs its own independent secretariat.
“This model is the first of its kind, not just in Africa but almost globally,” Eyeru declares. “We want young people to become owners of their own destiny co-creators with governments, not just beneficiaries.”
Kenyan taxpayers’ contributions fund this historic milestone. “We thank the Kenyan people,” Eyeru emphasizes. “Their taxes made this possible.”
12 Nations, One Vision
The Executive Committee represents all 12 ICGLR member states: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, South Sudan, Angola, Rwanda, Zambia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, and Central African Republic.
The secretariat underscores a powerful reality, young people constitute 60 to 70 percent of the population across these nations. This demographic weight sets the pace for addressing youth unemployment, skills mismatches, and inequality.
High-Level Opening Session Reinforces Kenya’s Commitment
The opening session was graced by the representative of the Principal Secretary, State Department for Youth Affairs & Creative Economy, Director Administration Mr. Kennedy Kimuyu, who reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to advancing the Youth, Peace & Security (YPS) agenda.
In opening remarks, ICGLR-RYF President Jacob Eyeru and Regional Coordinator Dr. Thomas Mose emphasized the importance of strengthening regional collaboration. Executive Committee members also shared reflections on the state of Youth, Peace & Security within their respective countries.
Digital Peacebuilding Takes Center Stage
President Jacob Eyeru highlighted the critical need for digital peacebuilding to foster cross-border integration and social cohesion across member states.
“Across our region, youth continue to demonstrate resilience and leadership in conflict prevention, social cohesion, climate action, governance, and economic transformation,” Eyeru notes. “As governments, regional institutions, and development partners, our responsibility is to create an enabling environment that allows young people to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes.”
Five Pillars of Youth Peace and Security
The forum’s mission focuses on five critical areas:
· Participation – Placing young people in high-level government roles
· Protection – Safeguarding youth from violence
· Prevention – Stopping youth from entering active conflict zones like DRC, South Sudan, and CAR
· Reintegration – Helping former youth combatants return to civilian life
· Policy formulation – Shaping national peace and security frameworks
“Kenya understands this from the 2007 crisis,” Eyeru notes. “Countries like the DRC, South Sudan, and Central African Republic still have active conflict areas. We must prevent young people from going into that.”
Building Sustainable Institutions
The 2026 Executive Meeting focuses on strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring long-term sustainability. Key objectives include:
· Assessing current institutional and governance structures
· Identifying capacity gaps and priority areas
· Exploring sustainable financing strategies
· Developing a sustainability framework
· Enhancing coordination between regional and national structures
“Our staffing remains below 50% capacity,” Eyeru admits. “But we have laid the foundation. We will not let Kenyan taxpayers feel their money went in vain.”
Also Read : https://africawatchnews.co.ke/jitume-programme-unlocks-online-jobs-for-youths-in-bungoma/
A Decade of Progress
The journey spanned three government administrations. Former Waziri Ababu (now Kenya’s representative to Uganda) signed the initial host agreement in 2022. Next, Waziri Mukomen advanced the process. Now, under the current Ministry of Youth and Creative Economy with CS and PS Fikirini Jacobs, the secretariat finally secured budget flow.
“We thank the P.S., Honorable Fikirini Jacobs, and the C.S. for Youth and Creative Economy, who have done a great job to see us transition to where we are,” Eyeru says.
The forum aims to establish national action plans on youth peace and security in all twelve countries. Leaders envision a future where young people attend Heads of State summits as equal participants, influencing high-level government policies.
“Kenya will become the leading country in youth programming on peace and security because this secretariat exists here,” Eyeru declares. “We will ensure that peace dwells in the Great Lakes region and that young people see their nations’ resources benefit their education, health, and employment prospects.”
The meeting will produce an institutional capacity assessment summary, a draft sustainability framework, actionable points with responsibilities, a resource mobilization roadmap, and strengthened coordination mechanisms.
“Kenya remains firmly committed to advancing youth development as a cornerstone of national and regional progress,” the official statement reads. “Regional integration cannot be achieved without the active participation of young people.”
