'Gen Z is the now': US preacher Rickey Bolden urges Kenyan leaders to listen to youth

American preacher and former NFL player Rickey Bolden has urged Kenyan leaders to face the growing frustration among young people, saying Generation Z is not just the future but the present, and they must be included in shaping the country’s direction.

Speaking during the 22nd National Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday, which brought together political, religious, and diplomatic leaders under the theme Arise and Rebuild, Bolden said the youth are tired of being ignored, and the government must create space for them at the table. The event was attended by President William Ruto, First Lady Rachel Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, the Speakers of both Houses, Chief Justice Martha Koome, as well as Members of Parliament.

“Gen Z is dying, and I am talking because I have Gen Z, and they are dying to be loved. They are dying for a seat at the table. They are dying to be respected… because sometimes, as parents, we want to make it all. We want our children to stay children all their lives. But that’s not the case with Gen Z; they have grown up,” Bolden said.

He directly addressed the government’s response to youth protests, warning that heavy-handed actions such as arrests and internet shutdowns only deepen mistrust.

“We shut down the internet, and we know that that’s your primary source of communication, and we are sorry. Now we want to bring you to the table so that you can have a voice, because you are no longer a child. You are an adult,” he said.

Bolden called for reconciliation between generations, not as a ceremony, but as a serious step towards shared leadership and understanding.

“It’s not enough to say Gen Z is the future. They are the now. They are entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, and some are wiser than we are. The most frustrating thing you can do to a Gen Z adult is keep treating them like a child,” he said.

Drawing a comparison with race relations in the United States, Bolden said lasting divisions are made worse by silence and denial.

“The reason race is still a flashpoint in America is because no one ever said I am sorry. Apology doesn’t erase history, it opens the door to healing,” he added.

Bolden, a former Miami Dolphins player whose NFL career was cut short by injury, has become one of the most sought-after preachers globally. He is based in Dallas, Texas and is widely respected for his powerful storytelling and messages about faith, leadership, and moral courage.

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