By Fatuma Rashid
The future is not a distant promise but something being built every day, County Secretary Koinange Wahome has said, emphasizing the important role of young people in shaping society and taking up leadership.
Speaking during the opening of the 4th Edition of the Dreams Youth Expo at Cedar Mall in Nanyuki, Koinange lauded Laikipia’s youth for driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
“What we’ve seen here today proves that youth are not just future leaders, they are leading now, shaping the very future the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) envision,” he said.
The two-day expo, organized by the Drawing Dreams Initiative, showcases over 80 youth-led startups addressing challenges such as digital inclusion, mental health, and agri-tech solutions.
Koinange noted that young people were translating global development agendas into local action, with more than 65% of SDGs requiring grassroots implementation.
“With youth making up more than half of our population, their role in driving progress isn’t just important, it’s critical,” he stated.
The County Government of Laikipia has invested heavily in youth programs, including the Laikipia Enterprise Fund and innovation hubs in vocational centers, training over 1,000 young people annually in digital and entrepreneurial skills.
“We’ve disbursed millions to support youth-led enterprises because innovation doesn’t happen in isolation; it needs the right environment to grow,” Koinange said.
He also highlighted partnerships with organizations like the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) to fund green startups, aligning with SDG 13 on climate action.
A unique feature of the expo is its mentorship culture, where past participants return as exhibitors guiding new innovators.
“This spirit of youth-supporting-youth is the foundation of sustainable change. It’s not just about one person making it; it’s about lifting others as you rise,” Koinange remarked.
He urged youth to remain resilient and said that their ideas mattered, their efforts were shaping Laikipia, and their leadership was already making a difference.
The expo, themed “Creativity fuels dreams, Innovation sparks ideas, Technology enables change,” runs until August 9, featuring pitches, networking, and exhibitions.