ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has embraced a viral meme at his expense and used it to highlight the power of youth creativity in Kenya. Speaking during the launch of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) Strategic Plan 2025–2029 in Nyeri on Friday, Kabogo amused the audience with a candid story about how Generation Z humorously poked fun at his fashion choices online.
The meme, which featured Kabogo sitting in an office with his trousers comically hiked up, quickly gained traction across social media platforms. Rather than taking offence, Kabogo laughed along with the nation. “Juzi niliona wamenichora memes… suruali imeinuka juu,” he said, chuckling. “The other day, I saw they had made memes about me… as if trousers don’t ride up when you sit down.”
The meme trended for three days, and Kabogo admitted he was left wondering where the creators had disappeared to once the buzz faded. But the story took a surprising turn when a young creative walked into his office with a self-designed meme in hand. The bold move earned the creator Sh20,000 on the spot—Kabogo’s way of appreciating digital talent.
“Ikawa sina neno,” he said. “I had no problem with it.” He emphasized that such creativity, even when humorous or critical, should be seen as an opportunity to engage the youth meaningfully.
Kabogo pointed out the vast potential of Kenyan youth, particularly Generation Z, in the digital space. He urged institutions to invest in digital innovation and support young people in transforming their online skills into viable careers.
In a similar instance earlier in May, Kabogo addressed another meme about his trousers during the Annual Media Summit, poking fun at himself while stressing the need to celebrate the playful and creative spirit of Kenyans.
Through his light-hearted approach, Kabogo is setting a precedent for leaders to view digital humour not as mockery but as a gateway to deeper engagement with Kenya’s digitally-savvy youth.
