By 
Why Kenya’s Youth Must Lead the National Rebirth
Viable Alternative Republic (VAR)
Kenya is hurting. The wounds from recent turmoil still sting, especially after the, 2024 Finance Bill protests shook the nation to its core. While the protests began over policy, they quickly evolved into a collective cry of frustration.
The murder of Ojwang’ became more than a tragedy; it served as a brutal symbol of how young lives are treated as disposable. Moreover, the Saba Saba commemorations highlighted a painful truth: the struggle for justice and inclusion remains unfinished.
Kenyan youth are no longer waiting in silence. Years of watching their peers slip into joblessness, poverty, and death at the hands of police have left them exhausted.
Although they were born after independence, they’ve inherited systems that exclude, exploit, and suppress them. As a result, this generation refuses to be quiet. They reject inherited dysfunction and are now demanding change.
In response, the Viable Alternative Republic (VAR) has emerged, not as another political initiative, but as a grassroots movement shaped by pain and driven by purpose. Rather than waiting for a seat at someone else’s table, young people are building their own.
This moment marks more than a call for dialogue, it signals a generational transition into leadership. Across the country, youth are taking up their rightful role as change-makers.
Every day, young people drive Kenya forward. They launch small businesses, power the digital economy through mobile platforms, support their families, and create solutions in communities long ignored.
Despite this, they remain excluded from national decision-making. That disconnect can no longer be tolerated.
Why Kenya’s Youth Must Lead the National Rebirth
A Clear Set of Demands
Kenyan youth are speaking with one voice. Their demands are urgent, clear, and non-negotiable:
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Equal Representation in National Dialogue: Youth must make up at least 50% of all national dialogue structures. This demand reflects their share of the population and the disproportionate burden they carry from failed policies. Tokenism is no longer acceptable.
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Economic Justice and Ownership: While employment matters, it’s not enough. Young people want access to capital, fair competition for tenders, business development support, and practical training. They seek not charity, but investment and opportunity.
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An End to Police Brutality: The bloodshed must stop. The youth demand an independent, civilian-led authority to investigate and prosecute rogue police officers. Families deserve justice, and protesters deserve protection—not bullets.
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Free, Purposeful Education: Education must connect young people to real opportunities. University and vocational training should be accessible and designed to match Kenya’s evolving economy. No graduate should leave school only to enter poverty.
From the Sidelines to the Steering Wheel
VAR strongly backs the Intergenerational National Conversation. However, the youth insist it must be led by citizens, not orchestrated by political insiders. Top-down approaches have failed for decades.
Now, the conversation must start from the ground, prioritizing honesty, urgency, and local leadership.
Youth are not interested in symbolic participation. They intend to shape the structure, set the agenda, and lead the conversation. Kenya cannot move forward by ignoring the majority of its population.
The Shift Is Already Underway
To government officials, political leaders, and all institutions of power: this is not a request. It’s a reality. Youth leadership is no longer theoretical, it is already in motion.
Across neighborhoods and counties, young leaders are organizing, innovating, and pushing forward, regardless of the obstacles.
Kenya belongs to them, not someday, but today.
Their voices are loud.
Their movement is strong.
And they will not be silenced.
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