NCCK Youth Demand Greater Role in Governance and Digital Economy

 By Faith wanza 

NAIROBI, Kenya — Young people have called for greater and sustained participation in governance, policy development and decision-making, saying their role should extend beyond being mobilised during election periods.

The call was made during the 4th National Youth Convening held on Friday, September 25, 2026, at CSLC-Ufungamano House under the theme “Claiming Space, Shaping Kenya.” The convening brought together young people and stakeholders to deliberate on governance, civic participation, livelihoods, technology and innovation.

Speaking during the meeting, National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) General Secretary Rev. Canon Chris Kinyanjui said young people should be recognised as citizens, innovators, entrepreneurs and active partners in shaping the country's present and future.

He said the youth should be provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making at all levels, from grassroots structures to the national level, including policy development, public participation, leadership and oversight.

“We envision a Kenya where governance is inclusive, accountable, transparent, responsive and citizen-centred,” Rev. Canon Kinyanjui said.

He also emphasised the need for leadership that listens to citizens, upholds integrity and constitutional values, and remains accountable for decisions and the management of public resources.

“Meaningful governance requires citizens who are informed, engaged and willing to demand accountability,” he said.

The convening further called for peaceful, informed and issue-based political participation as Kenya approaches another electoral cycle.

Participants urged young people to reject misinformation, disinformation, political manipulation and ethnic mobilisation, while encouraging them to remain actively involved in civic and governance processes.

The discussions also focused on the growing role of technology in the lives and livelihoods of young people.

Claire Njagi, a youth peacebuilding advocate, said technology was increasingly shaping how young people live, learn, work, communicate and create opportunities.

She noted that digital technologies, social media, digital payments and artificial intelligence were opening new possibilities in entrepreneurship, employment, education, markets and inclusion.

“Access to technology is not automatically access to opportunity,” Njagi said.

She identified several barriers limiting young people's ability to benefit from the digital economy, including the high cost of devices and internet access, unreliable electricity, limited digital skills, inadequate mentorship, lack of capital, certification challenges and restricted access to markets and professional networks.

Njagi said there was a need to support young people to move from daily hustles to sustainable enterprises capable of growing and creating employment.

The youth communiqué identified cash-flow challenges, customer retention, competition, taxation, record keeping, business registration, licensing and operational costs among the challenges facing young enterprises.

It called for increased access to mentorship, financing, partnerships and networks to enable young entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses.

On artificial intelligence, participants welcomed emerging technologies but stressed the continued importance of human judgment, creativity and responsibility.

They raised concerns over data privacy, digital safety, misinformation, inaccuracies in AI-generated information, child protection and excessive reliance on technology.

The youth called for continuous skills development to enable young people to adapt as technology evolves.

Njagi said technology should be used to expand opportunities rather than deepen existing inequalities, calling for affordable digital infrastructure, skills development, financing, mentorship, networks and access to markets.

“We want technology to expand opportunity, not deepen exclusion,” she said.

The convening also highlighted wider challenges affecting young people, including unemployment, rising living costs, financial pressure, repeated rejection, relationship difficulties and social expectations.

Participants called for stronger support systems, safe spaces where young people can have honest conversations, access to appropriate professional care and livelihood programmes that address the broader needs of young people.

The youth further called on the government, private sector, civil society, faith institutions and development partners to invest in systems that can help young people transform their ideas and skills into sustainable opportunities.

They also urged different generations to work together by combining the experience and knowledge of older generations with the energy, creativity and innovation of young people to address challenges facing communities.

The convening reaffirmed the need for young people to be treated not merely as beneficiaries of development programmes but as active participants in shaping Kenya's governance, economy and future.