South Korea to Send Researchers to Study Kenyan Youths
The Kenyan government has announced that a team of researchers from South Korea’s Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) will soon be visiting the country to carry out a study focused on Kenyan youth.
In a statement released on Monday, July 14, the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy revealed that the survey aims to help both Kenya and South Korea create effective strategies and policies to tackle the challenges young people in Kenya are facing.
The research will cover various aspects of young people’s lives, including their social behavior, psychological wellbeing, economic conditions, and political involvement.
The project will be led by two senior professors from HUFS: Prof. Jeon Only, who is the Director of the Africa Human Resource Development Centre under the Institute of African Studies, and Prof. Bae Yuh Jin, who heads the Centre for African Culture and History at the same institute.
“The professors pointed out that youth-related issues are a growing global concern, not just in Kenya, and understanding the needs, struggles, and perspectives of young people is vital in creating well-informed policies that truly support and empower them,” read part of the statement.
The university is among four Korean institutions that have applied for government funding to conduct youth-focused research in African countries, showing a growing interest in understanding the youth situation on the continent.
This development comes at a time when Kenya’s youth, particularly Generation Z, are playing a leading role in pushing for better governance and public accountability. They have been actively protesting and demanding that President William Ruto’s administration respond to the pressing needs of the population.
During the Saba Saba protests on Monday, July 7, thousands of young people marched through the streets in towns and cities across the country. These demonstrations were organized to voice public frustration over issues like the high cost of living and lack of government transparency.
Speaking publicly on Wednesday, July 9, President Ruto blamed unnamed individuals for allegedly financing and organizing the protests to create unrest. He warned that the government would not continue to tolerate any actions that could destabilize the country.
Ruto called for mutual respect between citizens and the government, insisting that while everyone has a right to express themselves, they must do so peacefully and within the law.
“I’ve remained patient and silent as some people tried to push for regime change using unconstitutional methods—but now I’ve had enough,” said Ruto.
He added, “If anyone attacks police officers, police stations, or government facilities, that’s no longer a protest—that’s an act of war. We will not allow such actions. Kenya must be a country of order, not one controlled by fear or violence.”
The arrival of the South Korean research team is expected to provide valuable insight into the issues facing Kenya’s youth and may help influence future youth development programs and policies.
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