By Meshack M. Ngangi, MPRSK | 16th January 2026

On Friday, 16th January 2026, young leaders, scholars, policymakers, and students gathered at The Co-operative University of Kenya, hosted by the Chief Debater and the University’s Chancellor, Dr. Benard William Chitunga, for the Youth Assembly Platform (YAP) dialogue. The platform was organized by the Digital Publishers Association of Kenya (DPA-K) to interrogate a question that has long lived in policy papers, political speeches, and public debate: can Kenya realistically become a First-World country—and what would that actually require? Held as a two-hour hybrid town hall bringing together a physical audience and thousands of online viewers, the forum adopted a deliberately sober tone, seeking to move beyond slogans and interrogate the hard choices behind national ambition.

The session moderator, Journalist Betty Njeru, expressed that the debate was anchored on the theme of Kenya as a First-World Country. The session was framed around a clear premise: development should not be measured by rhetoric or rankings alone, but by everyday lived experience. As the lead host stated at the outset, the conversation was not about aspiration for its own sake, but about “ideas, choices, and what kind of country young Kenyans want to inherit, and help build.” Against the backdrop of President William Ruto’s stated plan to transform Kenya into a developed nation within the next 20 to 30 years—targeting around 2055—the forum challenged participants to assess whether the vision is achievable, and at what cost.

The discussion by the Chief Debater, Dr. Benard W. Chitunga, and co-debaters Joy Brenda Masinde, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Kenya Power, Dr. Duncan Ojwang, Advisor on Human Rights and Justice at the Executive Office of the President and Mr. Michael Kirui, an Entrepreneurship Educator and Start-up Coach, was grounded in four foundational pillars identified as critical to any First-World transition: agricultural transformation and food security, energy expansion, modern infrastructure, and a skilled, innovative workforce. These pillars were examined through structured debate, expert input, and open-mic engagement, allowing both panelists and participants to test ideas against evidence and lived reality. In his opening remarks, Dr. Benard William Chitunga expressed that Kenya has proven to have the capacity to manage challenges like debt without defaulting and that the country is at a pivotal and advantageous place, just like Singapore, because many Kenyans are learned and brilliant. Additionally, the Chancellor said that there is always room for improvement and that Kenya can do better to make all systems work. 

On agriculture, the debate quickly exposed a central contradiction in Kenya’s development story. Agriculture remains the backbone of the economy and employs millions, yet the country continues to rely heavily on rain-fed farming, with less than five per cent of arable land under irrigation. Discussions highlighted that Kenya spends billions of shillings annually importing food, even as millions of citizens face food insecurity during drought cycles. The discussion questioned whether current policies truly serve smallholder farmers—who make up more than 70% of producers—or whether middlemen and cartels continue to capture most of the value. A First-World agricultural system, the panel argued, would prioritize irrigation, storage, agro-processing or value addition, and transparent value chains that allow farmers to earn more while consumers pay less. Dr. Duncan Ojwang said that Singapore will be the total of what we do every day, insisting it won’t be a magic bullet. Additionally, the legal scholar argued that Singapore had worse corruption than Kenya, but it reached a point where people said they were tired of being tired.

Energy expansion formed the second pillar of debate, with participants agreeing that no country can industrialize or innovate without abundant, reliable, and affordable power. Kenya’s progress was acknowledged: electricity access now exceeds 90%, and more than 80 per cent of generation comes from renewable sources such as geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar. Yet reliability and cost remain major obstacles. Frequent blackouts, high tariffs, and significant technical and commercial losses were identified as constraints that deter industrial investment and burden households. Panelists debated whether fixing grid stability or reducing losses would unlock growth faster, while also questioning who benefits most from the current energy structure. The promise of scaling power generation to 10,000 megawatts was framed not as an end in itself, but as a catalyst for manufacturing, e-mobility, and value-adding industries.

Infrastructure development, the third pillar, provoked some of the most pointed exchanges. Kenya has invested heavily in roads, railways, ports, and logistics, with transport and storage accounting for a significant share of GDP. However, concerns were raised about rising public debt and whether large projects always translate into broad-based economic benefit. The Standard Gauge Railway extensions and port modernization were cited as examples of infrastructure with transformative potential, but also with high fiscal risk if not efficiently utilized. Participants questioned how success should be measured: by engineering milestones and GDP figures, or by how infrastructure connects communities, lowers costs, and expands opportunity. The conversation also extended to the digital superhighway, with ambitious plans to roll out fibre optic networks and public Wi-Fi nationwide. Past audits revealing “ghost” digital projects underscored the need for strong procurement oversight and enforcement if digital infrastructure is to support inclusion rather than waste.

The final pillar of building a skilled and innovative workforce resonated deeply with the university audience. Speaking at the event, Michael Kirui argued that the first world means shared prosperity and that growth and equal access to basic resources and services are signs of prosperity. He therefore called out the Government to ensure equal quality of life across the country, so citizens in Mandera enjoy the same healthcare, security, and dignity as those in Nairobi. Despite education commanding the largest share of national expenditure, youth unemployment and underemployment remain widespread. Panelists highlighted a growing mismatch between education outcomes and labour market needs, noting that Kenya performs better in creative outputs than in inputs such as research funding and skills development. Questions were raised about whether universities are training graduates for an economy that no longer exists, even as technology, artificial intelligence, and digital services reshape global work. The discussion emphasized the need to align curricula with industry, strengthen vocational and technical education, and create pathways for entrepreneurship, particularly within the Silicon Savannah ecosystem. A First-World Kenya, speakers argued, must offer young people not just jobs, but meaningful, productive, and dignified work.

Advocate Joy Brenda Masinde argued that a first-world country remains a moving target defined by improving living standards, from basic dignity like self-contained housing to higher expectations as progress continues. True first-world status exists where functional systems deliver balance and enable a meaningful life for citizens through stability, service delivery, and opportunity. As the session drew to a close, the moderator pulled together areas of agreement and tension, reframing ambition as responsibility. The central challenge was no longer whether the dream of a First-World Kenya is too big, but whether the country is prepared to commit to the discipline, governance reforms, and long-term investment required to realize it. Panelists were challenged to name three actions they would prioritize within 12 months to move Kenya forward, with a strong emphasis on practicality, realism, and youth inclusion.

The forum concluded with a clear call to action for young Kenyans: to remain engaged, informed, and demanding of evidence-based leadership. Broadcast live across multiple digital platforms and hosted in a university setting, the Youth Assembly Platform underscored the role of informed public debate in shaping Kenya’s future. If Kenya is to achieve First-World standards by mid-century, the discussion suggested, it will not be through copying other countries wholesale, but by fixing what Kenyans experience daily—through accountable institutions, productive investment, and a generation willing to turn ambition into execution.