Kenya's youth use music to heal political divisions

Kenya National Youth Service Nairobi team after winning in the ongoing Kenya Music Festival on August 11, 2025. Youth have warned political leaders against dividing them on political, tribal and social lines, saying they should give them a break. On the eighth day of the Kenya Music Festival at Meru School, the stage became more than a platform for art, it became a pulpit of hope and national healing. Student from both Polytechnics, universities and technical colleges raised their voices and conviction, urged Kenyans to shun the tribal politics, intolerance, and destruction that have scarred the nation in recent years. For NIBS Technical College, their stirring piece 'Sisi ni Taifa' was both a warning and a call to arms, arms of peace, not conflict. "We should build the nation and not destroy the gains we have made. Integrity is our shield. Let's protect what we have and protect our country. Tribalism is poisonous, let's unite under one roof as Kenyans," they sang passionately. In the last one year, political protests have too often been marred by destruction of property, burning of businesses, and clashes fueled by ethnic divisions. For many in the crowd, these performances brought back memories of streets turned into battlegrounds, where neighbor turned against neighbor over political allegiance. Mukiria Polytechnic's song, 'Tuajibike', pressed home the theme of personal responsibility. "Let all leaders be responsible in everything they say and do irrespective of their status in society. Tribalism and hate will not take us anywhere as a country," they sang. Kirwa Polytechnic delivered perhaps the most direct indictment of divisive politics with 'Siasa Mbaya Maisha Mbaya'-bad politics ruins lives. "Politicians, give us a break. Why are we, the youth and activists, being used to sow seeds of disunity? Bad politics yields bad life, hatred destroys a country. Let's uphold dignity to the ruling government and wait for the next election, or we will descend into chaos." Then came the National Youth Service, whose vibrant choreography matched the conviction of their song 'Tujenge Kenya.' "Youth, we have a responsibility to build our country," they declared. "Divisive politics will not take us far. Kenya is my country let's join hands to rebuild our broken unity." From Embu University's 'Tujenge Taifa' to Turkana University's 'Tulisifiwe Taifa Letu,' the message was same of love for country, protection of heritage, and a rejection of division. Tharaka University's moving performance added a gendered perspective calling for equal rights and dignity for women, challenging the use of women as political tools. Kiirua Technical Training Institute at Meru School during the Kenya Music Festival on August 10, 2025. The festival became a reminder that Kenya's future is not in the hands of those shouting from podiums, but in the hearts of its youth singing, dreaming, and building. As one verse rang out over the audience, it felt less like a lyric and more like a prophecy: "Unity is strength, tribalism is poisonous." On Thursday, Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyangala said that events like the drama and music festival offer a perfect platform for such engagement. She praised the creativity and cultural pride of young performers, describing them as "a generation fearless in creativity, bold in expression, and deeply connected to culture." "Music and performance can tell the story of climate change in a way data alone cannot. They can speak against gender-based violence more powerfully than policy documents, and call us to unity when the nation feels under strain," she said.

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