Futuring-in-Context
Kenya Country Profile
- Located in the eastern part of Africa, Kenya boasts a diverse mix of cultures, landscapes, and wildlife. With a population nearing 54 million, a significant feature of its demographics is that over three-quarters of its citizens are under the age of 35.
- This youthful population carries immense potential but also faces significant challenges. Unemployment among the youth is a considerable issue, with youth unemployment rates estimated at around 20%. This is notably higher in informal settlements like Kibera, Nairobi’s largest slum, where most young people are engaged in informal and often precarious work.
- Social inequality is another considerable hurdle. Wealth distribution is highly uneven in the country, with resources and opportunities concentrated in urban and more affluent regions. Rural areas like North Eastern and Rift Valley provinces often have limited access to quality education and training opportunities compared to urban areas like Nairobi or Mombasa.
- Access to healthcare remains a challenge, particularly for youths in remote and marginalized communities. Despite improvements in health infrastructure, areas like Turkana County still struggle with a low doctor-to-patient ratio, impeding access to essential health services.
- Despite these obstacles, Kenyan youth are making strides in various sectors such as technology, agriculture, arts, and entrepreneurship. In the tech scene, young Kenyans are developing innovative solutions like Totohealth, a mobile app that uses text and voice messages to guide mothers through pregnancy and childcare. In agriculture, youth in areas like Meru County are embracing technology for precision farming. This spirit of innovation and resilience can propel Kenya’s socio-economic development forward, given the right support and opportunities.
Country partners and participants
Futures Literacy Lab
Kenya Polak Game
Our first experiment in the Futures Literacy Lab was designed to explore futures orientations. Kenyan youth were invited to share if they thought the futures would be better or worse, and to choose an avatar that represents them in the year 2035. Most Kenyan youth were very optimistic and felt they could influence the futures. Images included superheroes, influencers, symbols of justice, and angels.
Probable Futures 2035
“United We Meme”
Kenyan youth speculated that their frustrations with pervasive human rights and existential issues (food, crime, mental health, corruption, gender, etc.) would still be present in 2035. It would be culturally engrained to mask in false solutions and cope with triumphant memes.
Desirable Futures 2035
“An Educated Society is a Liberated Society”
In 2035, a focus on functional and fair government that is non-tribal and accountable to the people leads to free and accessible services, with family serving as a foundation for flourishing youth who can now rely on formal institutions to serve their interests.
Reframe 2035
“The Heterarchical Murmuration
Learning Intensive Society”
Youth embodied the attributes of a learning murmuration intensive society in the ways they creatively flowed with the reframe. Their new metaphors and poetic reflections illustrate their embrace of new ways of thinking, feeling, being, doing, sensing, and relating:
“Change is inevitable – a world of discovery where adaptation to novelty, shocks and surprises are natural.”
In the land of swarming minds,
Where experimentation thrives,
A nation stands, strong and kind,
The people here, they work as one,
No hierarchy, just collaboration,
They experiment and they have fun,
They know that failure is not defeat,
But a chance to learn and grow,
With persistence, they do compete,
Their minds and bodies in the flow.
They value difference, they embrace change,
Their norms are always evolving,
Their society, it may seem strange,
But it is in this way they are problem-solving.
Their youth are free to dream and create,
Their elders are respected and wise,
Their society, it is never too late,
To experiment and improvise.
Their world is one of vibrant hues,
Of art and music and dance,
Where wellness is the daily news,
In the land of swarming minds,
Where experimentation thrives,
A nation stands, healthy and kind,
Where everyone truly thrives.
-a poem by Filbert Mbugua
Photo Gallery
Enjoy a glimpse into our vibrant workshop spaces
Emerging Policy Issues Raised by Youth
Kenya Vision 2035
In 2023, Kenya faced numerous challenges ranging from political opacity to gender inequality and a flawed education system. However, the nation’s youth took charge, recognizing the transformative potential of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and spearheading social accountability initiatives.
Embracing technology and innovation, they integrated Artificial Intelligence into the economy, fostering efficiency and accessibility. The society upheld its unity, with women playing a pivotal role in economic contributions.
Through collective efforts, Kenya achieved greater equity, sustainability, and accountability, resulting in universal healthcare, reduced unemployment, and a self-sufficient, food-secure society.
The empowered Kenyan youth emerged as catalysts for positive change, steering the nation towards an inclusive, transparent, and sustainable future.
