Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has taken a jab at Kenyan youth over their recent anti-corruption protests, claiming that many are simply biding their time until they, too, can cash in on the graft game.
Kindiki was speaking on Friday, January 31, 2025, at the Ollessos National Polytechnic in Nandi County, where he was the chief guest when he urged the youth to be responsible custodians of the nation so they could leave behind a better country for their children.
It was at this moment that he emphasized that young people should not exclude themselves when condemning corruption, stressing that all forms of corruption—whether by the older generation, which they often criticize, or the corruption they might engage in the future—are equally detrimental.
He encapsulated his argument by terming it “intergenerational corruption” and implored the youth to uphold ethical standards, insisting that there are no shortcuts to success, despite what some may have led them to believe.
“I know many young people complain about corruption, they complain about all sorts of things, yet they themselves are simply waiting for their turn to be corrupt. So we must condemn intergenerational corruption. Corruption by the older generation is corruption, and it is bad, but future corruption is just as bad because it will destroy our country tomorrow,” the second in command stated.
Moral decay
Kindiki, who said he was addressing such issues because he was speaking to young people, went on to say that they must be willing to accept correction when they go astray.
He asserted that one of the most pressing issues crippling the nation was the moral decay among the youth, particularly their resistance to being guided.
According to Kindiki, young people have immense potential and an undeniable advantage over their parents and predecessors, especially due to their natural grasp of technology. However, he stressed that such an edge would be meaningless if they failed to heed the wisdom of those who came before them.
“We will always be here to mentor you, but it takes two to tango. You must allow yourselves to be mentored. We could offer guidance, but one of the biggest concerns in the country right now is our moral fabric as a nation. I say this because I am speaking to young people. You are more powerful than us because you have greater knowledge, thanks to technology. You have better exposure. But you must allow yourselves to be mentored,” Kindiki said
Channels for airing concerns
The deputy president further acknowledged that he understood there was a gap in communication channels, particularly when it came to how the youth could voice their legitimate concerns about the government.
He admitted that they were actively seeking a sustainable way for government officials to engage with young people without resorting to violence, protests, hatred, or economic sabotage.
He emphasized that they were open to being confronted with the truth, but insisted that there were proper avenues for such discourse, which should be strictly adhered to.
“We are also concerned about how we can redefine the way we engage with our country’s young people, as well as the older generation. Those in government and those outside of it must be able to interact without violence, hatred, division, or economic destruction. There must be ways to engage and tell us the truth without resorting to such extremes,” he said.
