Africa-Press – Kenya. A group of young people is set to take to the streets of Nairobi on Thursday in a procession aimed at showing support for President William Ruto’s development agenda.
Organisers have described the procession as a “celebration of progress” made over the past three years.
The youth, who plan to march through the Central Business District to Harambee House, the Office of the President, said the procession is intended to highlight the government’s scorecard and rally support for a second term for the Head of State.
Speaking ahead of the procession, Samuel Tentemo from Kajiado County said the initiative was driven by what he termed as a visible transformation across the country, particularly in rural areas.
“The President has achieved a lot in the first three years, and those saying otherwise just want to mislead Kenyans for their own interests,” Tentemo said.
“The youth, particularly those in rural areas, are feeling the change.”
Organisers say the procession will not only showcase key milestones but also serve as a platform for young people to express their political views and appreciation for ongoing government programmes.
Vincent Kabisai, one of the coordinators, said the march is meant to recognise efforts made by the administration to stabilise the economy and drive development despite global challenges.
“We are coming out to appreciate what has been done. Even with global tensions such as the conflict involving Iran, Kenya has remained stable, and the effects are not as severe,” he said.
“When you compare that to when the Russia-Ukraine war started in February 2022, the impacts were almost immediate and harsh.”
Another youth leader, George Mwangi, argued that a comparison between Ruto’s first three years and those of previous administrations shows a notable difference in delivery.
“If we put bad politics aside, we will all agree that a lot has been achieved,” Mwangi said.
“What we are seeing is progress that should be acknowledged.”
The planned march has also received backing from leaders within the ruling party.
UDA national youth leader Kariuki Ngunjiri defended the move, saying young people have a right to publicly support government initiatives.
“If they are seeing transformation happening before their eyes, let them say it,” Ngunjiri said.
“It is quite for them to highlight the milestones achieved so far.”
Among the key achievements the youth plan to highlight is the Affordable Housing Programme, which government reports indicate has created between 244,000 and over 500,000 jobs, largely within the construction sector.
The programme has particularly targeted young people and those in the informal “Jua Kali” sector, with each housing unit projected to generate multiple direct and indirect employment opportunities.
They also point to the “Kazi Majuu” labour mobility initiative, which has facilitated the placement of more than 530,000 Kenyans in overseas jobs since September 2022.
Education reforms have also featured prominently in the government’s agenda, with over 76,000 teachers employed since 2022 to address staffing shortages, particularly in junior secondary schools.
The administration aims to hire up to 116,000 teachers by 2027.
The planned procession comes at a time of heightened political activity in the country, with different groups increasingly taking public positions on the government’s performance.
