SPEECH BY H.E.

MARGARET KENYATTA, THE FIRST

LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, DURING THE
OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 7TH ANNUAL
NATIONAL
SECONDARY
SCHOOLS
STUDENTS
LEADERS CONFERENCE AT THE
BOMAS OF KENYA
ON WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL, 2015.
Young Leaders,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am truly delighted to be among such an inspiring
gathering of young leaders.
I have no doubt in my mind that with you, our countrys
future is bright, and that you will
steer Kenya to further progress and development.
The countrys future lies in your hands. This is why we lay
great emphasis, as a nation, on ensuring there is a solid
legacy and firm foundation set for our youth to take
advantage of and spur the country to greater heights.
Leadership and mentorship training programmes must
start at an early age. Which is why this forum is of utmost
importance to the development of a crop of young leaders
who will exercise the responsibility bestowed on them with
dignity and integrity.
The current social, economic and political state
of the world leaves a lot to be desired and paints a picture
of great uncertainty.
The global moral fabric has deteriorated greatly and our
youth are finding it increasingly difficult to find good
leadership to emulate.
We need to re-examine our positions as leaders
and realize that we need to provide good role models
to our young people if we are to safeguard the future
of our country.

My challenge to you, young leaders, is to urge you to work

hard and score good grades in your class work. This will
ensure that you are not only leaders in the social space
but also in academics.
Future leaders, HIV and AIDS continue to destroy the lives
of our youth. As leaders, be at the forefront in the fight
against this scourge.
Also fight alcohol, drug and substance abuse amongst our
youth.
Many of you gathered here have probably come into direct
contact with a victim of drug or alcohol abuse.
As you empathise with those addicted, think also about
solutions to combat addiction, and how you can
rehabilitate the victims to normal life.
Also of grave importance are retrogressive cultural
practices such as FGM and early, forced marriages, which
have destroyed the lives of many of our girls.
You need to strongly advocate an end to such social ills.
Remember that leadership is about sacrifice, and you
need to learn early that culture is dynamic, and that, at
times, it is more important to discard certain cultural
practices if we are to liberate future generations for the
sake of progress.
I wish to conclude by saying that the future of our
country heavily depends on your actions, both now and in
the future.
Do not allow tribe, religion, colour, gender or even political
affiliation to divide you.
Shun discrimination of any kind.
When we make the commitment to embrace these
values, we shall have a country that we can all be proud
of.

This has to be a personal decision from each one of you.

It now gives me great pleasure to declare the 7th Annual
National Secondary Schools Students Leaders Conference
officially open.
Thank you.