Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has called on young Kenyans to shield their peaceful demonstrations from criminal infiltration, cautioning that ongoing unrest poses a serious threat to the nation’s economic stability and future job prospects.
Speaking during a tour of the Ngong Veg Farm and Processing Facility in Kajiado County, CS Kagwe emphasized that while the Constitution guarantees the right to protest, that right must be exercised responsibly. He warned that criminal elements exploiting demonstrations to incite violence and destruction could tarnish Kenya’s global reputation, scare away investors, and derail job creation efforts.
“Whose country is this? It is ours—we must protect it,” Kagwe stated. “When criminals infiltrate peaceful movements and cause destruction, they don’t just damage property, they damage Kenya’s reputation, scare off investors, and make it harder for the young people to access the very jobs they are demanding.”
Kagwe stressed that perceived instability is already sending negative signals to the international community, with investors potentially shifting capital to other nations—some even less democratic than Kenya, but more stable. He noted that sectors like agriculture, which remain among the largest employers in the country, are particularly vulnerable to these shifts.
Ngong Veg Farm, which employs over 5,000 workers, was presented as a shining example of how investment in agribusiness can spur economic growth, enhance food security, and offer youth employment. The facility is a beneficiary of funding from the Agriculture Finance Corporation (AFC), whose officials joined the CS during the visit.
Thanks to AFC’s support, the facility has expanded significantly, processing and exporting fresh produce while creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs. Kagwe lauded such partnerships as a blueprint for youth empowerment and national development.
He concluded by urging young people to be vigilant in maintaining the integrity of their movements, stating that safeguarding peace is not a government duty alone, but a collective responsibility.
“Let us be the generation that builds, not breaks. Kenya’s future depends on the choices we make today,” he said.
