'No one is coming to save us': Uhuru challenges African youth to rise up

In his keynote address at the second annual Guild Leaders’ Summit 2025, held at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, Kenyatta framed Africa’s challenges as a clarion call for youth-led transformation declaring, “ You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”

Reflecting on the current global landscape, the former Head of State noted the shifting dynamics in which developed nations are increasingly inward-focused, leaving Africa to chart its own path. 

He urged the youth to recognize this as an “independence moment,” where they must step up as the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa for the sake of future generations.

With unwavering conviction, he reminded the ecstatic audience, mostly composed of young leaders, “No one is coming to save us, and as the world turns increasingly inward, the places to seek refuge are rapidly disappearing,” urging the youth to embrace their role as the freedom fighters of this era.