Political Ringside, one of Kenya’s best political talk shows, recently featured political strategist and former student leader Ndege Serikal, who shared practical ways for young people to secure influence in politics and society.
He emphasized that securing the future begins with deliberate choices made today. According to Ndege, Kenya’s youth must stop waiting for tomorrow to lead because their role starts now.
The old idea that young people are leaders of tomorrow must change since the youth have already shown they can influence national direction. He pointed out how young Kenyans proved their power last year through nationwide protests that caught many by surprise and forced President Ruto’s administration to respond to their concerns.
Those actions reminded leaders that citizens expect more than promises and comparisons to countries like Singapore.
Real growth, he said, will only come when actions match words.
Ndege advised the youth to register to vote and actively participate in elections. Voting is not just a right but a way to take part in shaping Kenya’s direction.
He also encouraged young people to stay involved in discussions, such as X spaces, where they can exchange ideas and hold leaders accountable.
Keeping the spirit of past protests alive through continued conversation and action will help maintain pressure for real change.
Ndege warned against tokenism in politics, where young people are given small roles or paid to show up without any real influence.
This practice, he said, has existed from colonial times to modern politics. Many youths are used for noise-making or mobilization but excluded from decision-making.
To change this, Ndege urged them to reject symbolic participation and focus on becoming essential in discussions and planning.
Tokenism may not disappear soon, but youth can turn limited opportunities into real power if they use every space to make their voices count.He also spoke about the value of student leadership as a foundation for national influence.
Reflecting on his time in the Students’ Organization of Nairobi University (SONU), Ndege said that campus politics teach essential leadership skills such as communication, media relations, and handling pressure.
Many national leaders began in such spaces, where they learned to manage different interests and groups.
Without that experience, he believes many would struggle to grow into capable leaders.
Inclusivity, he added, is another crucial lesson. Politics cannot grow when many are left out. From his student days, Ndege learned that real leadership means creating spaces for everyone.
By forming youth groups that welcome diverse ideas and voices, young people can build stronger and more united communities.
Ndege’s journey from student activism to preparing for a parliamentary run in Langata shows that progress is possible when one starts early and builds consistently. He urged the youth to see every challenge as training for future leadership.
Politics may still disadvantage some groups, especially women, but young people can change that by fighting for fairness and equality.
Ndege Serikal believes that Kenya’s youth can secure real power through deliberate choices.
Through voting, staying engaged, rejecting tokenism, learning from student leadership, and promoting inclusivity, they can move from being observers to decision-makers.
