Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has urged young people in Kenya and across the East African region to reject violence, divisive politics and tribalism, saying no young life should be lost for political interests.
Speaking on Monday while representing President William Ruto at the 21st Plenary Assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) held at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi, Mudavadi said peace and national unity are more important than political differences.
“I call upon our young people in Kenya and across the region to reject violence, divisive politics and tribalism. No young and promising life should be sacrificed for political expediency. Elections will come and go, but our nation’s unity, stability and future must endure for generations to come,” said Mudavadi.
Mudavadi said conflicts across Africa continue to claim lives, displace millions of people and deny children their right to education.
He noted that in the East and Horn of Africa alone, more than 20 million people have been forcibly displaced due to armed conflict.
Citing United Nations statistics, Mudavadi said that as of June 2026, approximately 118 million children across Africa were out of school because of violent conflicts and climate change-related emergencies.
Referring to the situation in Sudan, he said more than 14 million people have been displaced since war broke out in April 2023, while nearly half of the country’s schools are no longer operational, disrupting the education of about 13 million children.
“This situation is putting the future of an entire generation of African children at risk,” he said.
Mudavadi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting equitable development, strengthening peace and security across the region, and placing young people at the centre of the country’s development agenda.
He also commended AMECEA for making youth mentorship the focus of its 2026 Plenary Assembly, saying the initiative would help build a more peaceful, united and prosperous society.
