How passion for education inspired Youth Assembly Speaker Mohamed Skanda

At 28, Mohamed Skanda’s eyes reflect the determination of a man who has spent his life pushing against the barriers that held back his peers.

Born and raised in the coastal county of Lamu, Mohamed’s journey to becoming the national Speaker of the Youth Assembly is a testament to the power of resilience and a vision for change that has guided him through every challenge.

But Mohamed’s path was not an easy one. From a young age, he witnessed the struggles that many of his friends and family faced, such as poverty, limited access to education, and cultural norms that often silenced the voices of the youth.

But rather than accepting this reality, he chose to challenge it.

Born and raised in the heart of Mokowe village, Mohamed’s journey has been anything but straightforward.

"Growing up, the challenges were immense. Many of my peers, unable to continue with their education, turned to fishing or other chores to support their families. It was a struggle to see so much potential go to waste because of poverty and cultural barriers," Mohamed told The Eastleigh Voice.

From his early education when he attended Mokowe Primary School before advancing to Mpeketoni High School where he completed Form Four in 2014, Mohamed’s journey was one of perseverance.

“I developed a passion for supporting young people while in high school, after witnessing that many youths in Lamu County were deprived of education opportunities due to various challenges including poverty, ignorance, and cultural barriers. A significant number of young people were denied access to justice, with cultural issues such as early marriages preventing young girls from pursuing higher education. Poverty also forced many of my peers to forgo education in favour of becoming fishermen or finding other ways to support their families,” he said.

But it was at the University of Nairobi, where he enrolled in 2016, that his passion for youth empowerment truly took root. He pursued a course in public administration and political science.

"University was a turning point for me. That was where I realised that I couldn’t just stand by and watch as the youth of Lamu and the coastal region were left behind,” he said.

Mohamed’s commitment to this cause grew stronger when he founded the Lamu University Students Organisation during his first year in university.

The organisation united university students from Lamu with the shared goal of returning to their communities to empower others.

Mohamed Skanda takes the oath of office after being elected the National Youth Speaker during the 2024 National Youth Parliamentary session on August 19, 2024. (Photo: Handout)

"We focused on career sensitisation for primary and secondary school students and engaged parents in discussions about the importance of education," Mohamed said.

His efforts also included mobilising resources such as bursaries from both the county and national governments to support students in need.

Upon completing his university studies, Mohamed’s advocacy took on a broader scope. He was instrumental in the formation of the Lamu Youth Assembly and was elected its Speaker in 2021.

The assembly brought together young people from across Lamu’s ten wards, including marginalised groups like the Boni.

His leadership in this role earned him a contract with Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri), where he initially served as a paralegal officer focusing on issues related to sexual offences1 and human rights observation.

"My work with Muhuri has been deeply rewarding, particularly in addressing the basic rights of education for young people," he said.

His dedication to human rights advocacy led to his promotion to a civic educator and eventually to his current role as the Lamu County Coordinator for Muhuri.

In this capacity, Mohamed has been a vocal advocate for children’s and women’s rights, and social justice issues such as police brutality and corruption.

"We fought hard to ensure that services from public offices are provided without discrimination or the expectation of bribes," he said.

But his journey to becoming the Youth Assembly National Speaker was fraught with challenges.

"When we were informed about the Youth Africa Summit, supported by the Oslo Centre and the Norwegian Embassy, I faced significant obstacles. Our numbers as coastal youth were few, and we struggled to form a strong caucus. My opponent was from the same region, Kwale County, and there was fierce competition from other counties, all vying for the position of National Youth Speaker," he said.

Mohamed Skanda is assisted in wearing the Speaker's attire after being elected the National Youth Speaker during the 2024 National Youth Parliamentary session on August 19, 2024. (Photo: Handout)

Despite these challenges, Mohamed remained undeterred, drawing inspiration and support from local political leaders, including both the governor and the Speaker of Lamu.

"They empowered me with lobbying skills and the confidence to believe that we, the people from marginalised areas could secure this position," he said.

"It didn’t matter where we came from. What mattered was the effort we put into our campaign and our commitment to representing the youth of Kenya."

Mohamed’s election is more than just a personal victory. It was a moment of pride for the entire coastal region.

"This election breaks down the stereotype that young people from the coast are not educated, informed, or involved in national matters. It has proven that we, the youth of Lamu, can break through barriers and make a significant impact on the national stage,” he said.

In his new role, Mohamed is committed to making meaningful changes. His work with Muhuri has already had a profound impact on Lamu, particularly in areas such as child maintenance, sexual and gender-based violence, land injustices, and access to justice.

"We have successfully prosecuted 28 cases related to sexual offenses in the past year alone, which were previously underreported due to cultural barriers," said Mohamed.

He also participated in the formulation of a gender technical working group in Lamu which coordinates responses to sexual and gender-based violence and the establishment of rescue centres for victims.

His leadership has also extended to supporting the digital transformation of police stations, ensuring smooth data transmission from the police to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the courts.

In recognition of his leadership, Mohamed has received several awards from civil society organisations in Lamu and the wider coastal region. His involvement in the IGAD summit for the African Union in Ethiopia in 2019 further solidified his position as a key youth leader on the continent.

"As National Youth Speaker, I aim to foster regional collaboration among young people across Africa, addressing issues with a unified voice. This position has given me the platform to make a difference, not just for the youth of Lamu, but for young people across Kenya and beyond,” he said