- Ashford Kimani argues that Kenya repeatedly reacts to youth crises without addressing their underlying causes.
- He says school fires, femicides, Gen Z protests and the Summertides controversy all point to deeper social challenges.
- He calls for lasting reforms that prioritise dialogue, mentorship, mental health and opportunities for young people.
Kenya’s youth seem to lurch from one national crisis to another, yet each time the dust settles, we behave as though the latest tragedy or controversy exists in isolation. We mourn, we condemn, we trend on social media, we establish task forces and then move on—until the next crisis erupts. It is a cycle that has become painfully predictable.
From the recurring school fires that have claimed young lives and destroyed dreams, to the horrifying rise in femicides involving young people; from the Gen Z protests that shook the political establishment to the controversy surrounding the recently concluded Summertides festival in Malindi, the faces may change, but the underlying story remains remarkably similar. Kenya is witnessing repeated youth crises, yet learning remarkably few lessons from them.
Each incident exposes a deeper wound that we are reluctant to confront.
When students torch schools, our immediate response is to tighten security, install surveillance cameras and threaten harsher punishment. Rarely do we ask why so many learners are increasingly choosing destructive forms of expression. Are our schools listening to students? Are parents present enough? Are counselling services adequate? Have examination pressure, mental health struggles and social media transformed young people’s emotional landscape faster than our education system can respond?
When another young woman is brutally murdered, the country erupts in grief and anger. We demand justice—and rightly so. Yet beyond arrests and public outrage, have we seriously addressed the toxic attitudes, online misogyny, substance abuse, dysfunctional relationships and economic frustrations that continue to fuel violence? Justice after death is important, but prevention before tragedy is even more important.
Then came the Gen Z protests, perhaps the most significant youth political awakening since the return of multiparty democracy. Thousands of young Kenyans marched not because they belonged to political parties, but because they felt ignored by a political class that appeared detached from their daily realities. They spoke about unemployment, corruption, taxation, public debt and hopelessness. Instead of carefully listening to their frustrations, too many leaders dismissed them as misguided, manipulated or impatient. A historic opportunity for genuine dialogue was squandered.
Beyond Summertides
Now the spotlight has shifted to Summertides. Videos circulating online have triggered widespread criticism over alleged public indecency, excessive drinking and irresponsible behaviour. Predictably, the debate has become polarised between those condemning the entire festival as moral decay and those dismissing every criticism as old-fashioned intolerance.
Yet the real question is much bigger than one festival.
Why do so many young people appear increasingly drawn towards extremes? Why are we repeatedly surprised by behaviour that is merely the latest symptom of deeper social fractures?
Perhaps because it is easier to condemn behaviour than to understand its causes.
Today’s young Kenyan is growing up in a vastly different environment from previous generations. Social media has become both classroom and playground. Validation is measured in likes and followers. Online influence often outweighs parental guidance. Success is displayed through carefully curated lifestyles that few can realistically attain. The pressure to belong has never been greater.
At the same time, opportunities remain painfully limited. Universities continue producing graduates faster than the economy creates meaningful jobs. Many young people work tirelessly only to remain trapped in economic uncertainty. Others have abandoned hope altogether. Frustration, when left unattended, often finds unhealthy outlets—whether through violence, substance abuse, reckless entertainment or destructive protest.
Shared responsibility
Parents, schools, religious institutions and government all share responsibility.
Parents cannot outsource character formation entirely to teachers. Schools cannot focus exclusively on grades while neglecting emotional intelligence, mentorship and life skills. Religious institutions must engage young people with empathy rather than condemnation. Government cannot continue treating youth primarily as voters during elections and statistics thereafter.
Above all, leadership matters. Young people learn more from what leaders do than from what leaders say. A country that normalises corruption while preaching integrity sends contradictory messages. A society where dishonesty is rewarded but honesty struggles to survive cannot expect young people to embrace values that appear commercially and politically inconvenient.
The digital age has further complicated matters. Every crisis is amplified within minutes. Algorithms reward outrage, sensationalism and conflict. A shocking video receives millions of views, while stories of resilience, innovation and responsible youth leadership rarely trend. Consequently, society develops a distorted image in which exceptional misconduct appears to represent an entire generation.
That perception is unfair. Millions of Kenyan youth continue to study diligently, volunteer in their communities, build businesses, innovate with technology, excel in sports and serve society with integrity. They rarely make headlines because responsible citizenship is less dramatic than controversy.
Turning crises into lessons
The challenge, therefore, is not that Kenya has lost an entire generation. The challenge is that society pays more attention to crises than to solutions.
Every national controversy should become a classroom. School fires should teach us to strengthen counselling, student engagement and school leadership. Femicides should force us to confront gender violence long before it escalates into murder. The Gen Z protests should remind leaders that listening is wiser than dismissing. The Summertides controversy should encourage conversations about responsible entertainment, public decency and personal accountability without resorting to moral panic.
Unfortunately, our national memory is remarkably short. We react emotionally, commission investigations, issue recommendations and quietly shelve the reports. When the next crisis arrives, we start the conversation all over again.
That is perhaps Kenya’s greatest failure—not that crises occur, but that they teach us so little.
The measure of a mature society is not the absence of mistakes. It is the willingness to learn from them. Nations grow stronger when painful moments produce meaningful reforms. Families grow stronger when difficult conversations replace silence. Institutions grow stronger when they adapt instead of defending outdated practices.
Choosing a different future
Kenya stands at such a moment. We can continue treating every youth crisis as an isolated headline, or we can recognise them as warning signs pointing to the same unresolved challenges: unemployment, weakened family structures, inadequate mental health support, a digital culture evolving faster than our institutions, inconsistent leadership and a growing disconnect between generations.
Our young people are not simply asking to be criticised. They are asking to be understood, guided, challenged and given reasons to believe in their future.
The next crisis is not a matter of if, but when. The only question is whether, by then, Kenya will finally have learnt the lessons that have been staring us in the face all along.
By Ashford Kimani
Ashford Kimani is a teacher of English and Literature who writes on education and social affairs.
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