Youth Activism in Kenya
In Kenya, following historic protests last year, youth activists continue to advocate for change in an increasingly hostile environment. In partnership with the Columbia Global Center in Nairobi and as a part of CGT’s signature research project, “Youth in a Changing World,” this event convenes a conversation with these leaders to talk about what is at stake and what is possible for young people in the region.
Moderator
Adam Tooze is the Chair of the Committee on Global Thought, the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of History and the Director of the European Institute at Columbia University. Born in London, Professor Tooze grew up in Heidelberg, Germany, before taking a first degree in economics from King’s College Cambridge. After postgraduate study at the Free University Berlin he took his Ph.D. in economic history from the London School of Economics in 1996. For 13 years, he taught in the History Faculty of the University of Cambridge before joining Yale University, where he was the Barton M. Biggs Professor of History and the Co-Director of International Security Studies from 2009 to 2015.
He has authored three prize-winning books: Statistics and the German State 1900-1945: The Making of Modern Economic Knowledge (Cambridge University Press, 2001), The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy (UK edition, Penguin Allen Lane, 2006), and The Deluge: The Great War, America and the Remaking of the Global Order, 1916-1931 (Viking, 2014). Tooze’s books have been translated into German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, Mandarin, Polish and Bulgarian.
Statistics and the German State 1900-1945 explores the connection between the emergence of modern national economic statistics and the crisis of the German state in the first half of the twentieth century. Wages of Destruction provides a novel account of the Third Reich viewed from the perspective of the regime’s efforts to harness the German economy for its bid for continental hegemony. The Deluge is an analysis of the First World War that challenges the existing narrative of the war, its peace, and its aftereffects. Most recently, it won the 2015 Los Angeles Times History Book Prize.
Professor Tooze has served on the academic panels charged with writing the histories of the German Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Economics Affairs. He has served as the Thomas Hawkins Johnson Visiting Professor in Military History at West Point and contributed to the academic advisory panel of the National Intelligence Council. He has written and reviewed for Foreign Affairs, the Financial Times, the Guardian, the Sunday Telegraph, the Wall Street Journal, Die Zeit, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Tageszeitung and Spiegel Magazine, and New Left Review.
Panelists
Angel Mbuthia holds a Master’s in Research and Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science & Sociology) from the University of Nairobi, and a CPA (K) from the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Education Board (KASNEB). She’s currently the reigning Ms. President Kenya, an honorary title bestowed to the winner of the annual leadership contest among emerging women leaders in Kenya. She was also listed in Kenya's prestigious Business Daily Top 40 under 40 women. She is also Mandela Washington Fellow 202,4, a U.S. government-sponsored initiative that empowers young African leaders through leadership training, networking, and practical experience.
She is a dynamic individual recently appointed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to serve on their esteemed International Youth Advisory Committee. With a passion for global affairs and a commitment to effecting positive change, she brings a fresh perspective to the table.
Ms. Mbuthia serves as a Director in the Kenya National Youth Council Board and was recently elected to Chair the first ever COMESA Youth Advisory Panel (COMYAP), in addition to being the Secretary for Gender and International Relations in the All-Africa Students Union headquartered in Accra, Ghana. She is also a former Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Youth Ambassador.
She served as vice president of the Students' Organization at Nairobi University (SONU) during her campus years. She’s a global champion for realizing a just and equitable world for all children and young people and believes no child should be left behind, in line with Sustainable Development Goals 4, 5, and 10.
Javan Ofula is a dedicated human rights advocate, community organizer, and event curator with extensive experience in grassroots activism and youth empowerment. As a leading voice in the fight against police brutality, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions in Kenya, he plays a pivotal role in the Missing Voices Coalition. He co-founded the Dandora Community Justice Center, a member center of the Social Justice Movement of Kenya. Javan has been instrumental in mobilizing communities, strengthening civic engagement, and using creative platforms, including music, art, and cultural events to amplify youth voices in social justice movements. He also curates the Haki Festival, which brings artists, activists, and stakeholders together to advance human rights and accountability.
Passionate about policy advocacy and movement-building, he continues collaborating with key stakeholders to push for systemic reforms and meaningful youth participation in governance. His work bridges activism, storytelling, and strategic partnerships to drive impactful change across Kenya and beyond.
Judith Achieng is a dynamic and adaptable professional renowned for being a firecracker and a conversation starter. She exemplifies the ability to thrive in diverse fields with a career marked by a seamless transition from purchasing and supplies to public policy. This adaptability is a testament to her resilience and commitment to growth and change.
Passionate about intergenerational mentorship, politics, and gender mainstreaming, Judith fosters inclusive and equitable environments. Her work at Siasa Place reflects this commitment, as she actively advocates empowering young people and women in governance. She has led initiatives such as the Binti na Siasa, Imara Policy and Leadership program, and Fuatilia Ahadi. Her efforts to integrate gender-sensitive
policies in political parties underscore her commitment to inclusive political participation.
Judith's professional journey and personal passions highlight an unwavering dedication to creating positive social change. She has worked on critical issues such as technology-facilitated gender-based violence and has established a working MOU with five major political parties in Kenya. Whether through mentorship, political advocacy, or promoting gender equality, Judith continues to inspire and lead efforts toward a more politically woke generation.
She holds a degree in Purchasing and Supplies from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and is pursuing a degree in Public Administration.