The Political Cost of The Current Generational Gap  

“The generational gap is real, but its cost is greater when we let it go unaddressed.” 

Life is often pictured as a shared journey, but at every turn, our experiences diverge across generations. Calling these differences ‘just being human’ overlooks a deeper issue.  

Perhaps it reflects a deeper divide between generations, indicating a gap that persists and widens, evident in the differing perspectives of Boomers, Gen X, Gen Z and Gen Alpha. 

Talking Across the Divide 

How often do we truly talk about it? Yes, this talking could take different forms, we agree. Though I mean meaningful engagement: open-minded conversations where truths are shared, false assumptions are challenged, and discussions are grounded in lived realities. 

I recall a conversation with my older brother, two uncles, and my father, who sat quietly as we debated politics. My brother challenged the drive behind the globally recognized Maandamano protests, etched in slogans like “Reject Finance Bill” and “Reject, not Amend.” 

I admitted there was no single driver, only a collective bitterness among youth frustrated by the promises of life that seemed increasingly out of reach for an educated person.  

The optimism that marked the late Hon. Mwai Kibaki era, when education and opportunity appeared attainable, now feels distant. Kenyan employees, at home and abroad, possess immense expertise and capacity, yet these resources are underutilized. 

“What did you achieve after all that? Look at all the lives lost,” my brother jibed, anger flashing across his sharp-eyed face. “That’s why we keep telling you to take it easy and relax.” 

I had to respond. “Chilling is what has brought us this far. Those young people were out there on their own accord, each driven by a reason to act.” In my mind, I juggled the realization that life struggles for the middle, lower-middle, and low-income classes have more than doubled due to structural limitations in production. 

The Shift from Agriculture to Services 

This is especially true for a nation whose GDP has long relied on agriculture. In East Africa, smallholder farming accounted for roughly 75% of agricultural production and employment, yet its contribution to rapid economic growth remains limited. Instead, the service sector has emerged as the main driver of growth (NPA, 2010; Salami et al., 2010). 

I asked my brother, “Would you do farming? Are you farming?” He responded, “No, not yet. That move needs lots of capital.” This response made me reflect on how subsistence farming was the norm when I was about a decade old. However, since the millennial age, overreliance on the service industry has been promoted as the path forward. 

Statistics reinforce this: in Uganda and Kenya, the service sector has grown rapidly, at about 9.5%, outpacing agriculture’s contribution to GDP (NPA, 2010; Salami et al., 2010). Even though what happens if these service sector jobs are cut? Company closures and layoffs leave employees to fend for themselves, exposing the fragility of this single-track economic focus. 

Diversifying Opportunities 

The unemployment crisis highlights the dangers of assuming success can only be found in services. What if we diversified incomes and offered incentives to youth, women, and men for engaging in agriculture or other crafts? My brother argued that shifting mindsets takes ages.  

True, but does that mean we should stop exchanging insights and lessons? I believe the opposite. Together, with diverse thoughts, we can create a greater impact. 

Addressing challenges such as food insecurity could reduce conflicts, strengthen systems, and restore balance to our communities. Yet we face hurdles: a desire to control who is empowered and a limited understanding of the complexities of intergenerational gaps. 

The Power of Youth Innovation 

The youth, however, are innovative, particularly in digital spaces, including artificial intelligence. Supporting their ambitions and guiding their ideas can amplify creation, drive transformation, and promote sustainable development.  

This generation is endowed with empathy, curiosity, and resilience, yet they face suppression, disapproval, and systemic barriers. 

“What will future generations see when they look back at us?” Will they witness a people who pointed out corruption, supported one another, and navigated a complex political and social system with reason and integrity? 

Youth today are challenging entrenched systems, sharing best practices, and demanding people-centered leadership, a concept long desired by all generations. 

What will it take to achieve unity, harmony, and cooperation among generations for the common good? Perhaps the first step is dialogue, followed by collective action grounded in empathy, innovation and shared responsibility. 

The generation gap is real, but its cost is greater when we let it go unaddressed. Through understanding each other and acting together, we can turn division into strength and promise into progress.