Murugu, a tireless fighter in war to improve the lives of the youth

His trademark “Good morning ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the fresh ministry,” was always Kinuthia Murugu’s opening statement at Youth Affairs functions.

And true to his words, Mr Murugu, who died on Thursday from injuries sustained in a carjacking, spent much of his time shaping the agenda of the country’s youth under the ministry created in 2003.

“We ignore the youth at our own peril,” he often warned.

Mr Murugu has been the only accounting officer at the ministry since its establishment.

It is under his guidance that the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, which has more than doubled from an initial Sh1 billion, was established. More than Sh1.7 billion has been disbursed to individual youths and youth groups as loans.

The ministry has also embarked on an ambitious plan to revamp youth polytechnics after years of neglect.

On various occasions, the PS explained that the aim was to turn one polytechnic in every constituency into a centre of excellence.

Another highlight of his tenure is the Kazi kwa Vijana programme, which aims to create at least 300,000 jobs by the end of the year. It is coordinated by the Prime Minister’s office.

Following the 2008 post-election violence, the PS spearheaded another ambitious programme aimed at reconciling communities.

This was the Youth Exchange Programme where youth switch areas with colleagues from another region for at least three weeks.

The programme has seen youth from Coast, Central, Rift Valley, Eastern and Nyanza provinces interact.

Some of these areas were hotspots in the post-election violence.

Condolence messages from the top leadership summed up the role played by Mr Murugu in shaping the youth agenda.

President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka described his death as an unfortunate loss of a visionary leader.

“The late Kinuthia Murugu tirelessly helped to pursue an agenda dear to my heart, that of youth development. His absence will especially be greatly felt by the young people who had found in him a true friend and mentor,” the Head of State said.