'Stand up and fight for your rights!' Uhuru Kenyatta advises Gen Zs

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has rallied the Kenyan youths against relenting in their fight for democracy and better governance.

Speaking during the burial service of his cousin Kibathi Muigai at Nairobi Chapel on Friday, the retired President took issue with the younger Kenyan generation for presumably displaying fear in addressing society's ills and defending their rights.

Kenyatta underscored that it was wrong for citizens to remain mum as their resources are mismanaged and bad leadership prevails.

He went on to urge his own young family members to also join the Gen Z uprising as the only sure way of standing for their beliefs and ensuring the country does not go to the dogs.

“The problem with people nowadays is that everybody is scared; sijui mmeogopeshwa, even you Ngina rudi uingie hii. Gen Zs, you are the story of the future,” he said.

“Fight for your rights, sio kukaa hapo mali yenu ichukuliwe na nyinyi mmeitolea jasho! Msikubali, pambaneni muhakikishe mmepata haki yenu, mnaskia? Sio kukaakaa hapo tu. Hakuna kitu kinadumu.”

The ex-president was alluding to a perceived harassment of the children of the deceased because of their parents’ property which had been illuminated during the eulogy.

According to the fourth president, everything is worth fighting for and one should always stand up for what they believe in.

He attributed his sentiments to the life of the deceased, whom he remembered for his brevity through which he endured detention and remained unbowed, adding that he has personally since retired and is not able to keep up with the fight but would back the youths.

“Everything is worth a fight for, if you don’t fight for it, ikienda mtu asilie. Stand up and fight for your rights and you still have these youngsters who are ready to fight for their rights. You can’t just stand there and let people take your hard-earned sweat, that is not how the world goes,” he stated.

“You should be people who live courageously like my friend; he was detained, got out and continued with his life. In the same way, fight for your rights. Don’t just live in fear…kuogopa ni sisi, nyinyi mko na nguvu ya kupambana na hawa watu. We are behind you, continue like that.”

“You’re the future, fight for your rights. Sio kukaa kaa hapo mali yenu ichukuliwe, msikubali. Pambaneni mhakikishe mmepata haki yenu!” Former President Uhuru Kenyatta encourages Gen Zs pic.twitter.com/GS7sWbgu7F— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) January 17, 2025