At 26, Gideon Kiplangat Jangut has already experienced the challenges that confront many young people, but instead of allowing them to define his future, he has turned them into a motivation to champion youth empowerment, talent development, and leadership.
Jangut from Soy Sub County in Uasin Gishu is seeking support to develop his music talent and expand his efforts to mobilize young people around issues affecting them, saying the youth must be given a platform where they can express themselves, showcase their abilities, and participate meaningfully in the development of the country.
A beneficiary of the President’s Award-Kenya, Jangut believes the skills and values he acquired through the programme have equipped him with the capacity to contribute to society and mentor other young people.
The President’s Award-Kenya is a structured, non-formal youth self-development programme for young people aged between 14 and 24 years. It focuses on community service, skills development, physical recreation and adventurous journeys, with participants progressing through bronze, silver and gold levels.
Jangut progressively completed the award levels, attaining the prestigious Gold Award in 2017. Among the activities he excelled in were agriculture, endurance in a 50-kilometre walk, swimming and lifesaving, first aid and leadership.
He now hopes his achievement will earn him consideration for opportunities in public service, including recruitment, training, and career advancement.
For Jangut, however, the award is more than a certificate. It represents a journey that shaped his outlook on life and strengthened his desire to work with young people.
“I had a dream after finishing school that did not materialize. My dream was to unite young people across the country,” he says.
His passion for youth affairs is partly rooted in his own difficult educational journey. He reached Class Eight before dropping out of school to give his sisters an opportunity to continue with their education due to the family’s limited financial resources.
The experience taught him the importance of understanding the aspirations and circumstances of young people, particularly those whose potential can easily be lost because of poverty, lack of support or limited opportunities.
Jangut says parents also have a crucial role to play in helping young people realize their potential.
He urges parents to listen to their children, understand their needs and aspirations and avoid imposing their own ideas and ambitions on them.
According to him, giving young people room to communicate and make informed choices can help families build stronger relationships while enabling children to pursue their talents and ambitions.
He is also calling for the establishment of more platforms where young people can raise issues affecting them and participate in decision-making at community level.
Jangut believes youth unity can become a powerful force for national development if young people are supported and given opportunities to contribute their ideas.
He says many dreams have been abandoned because young people lack platforms through which they can express themselves, develop their talents and receive mentorship or financial support.
He is particularly concerned about young people who remain idle for long periods, warning that lack of meaningful activities can expose them to drug and substance abuse, irresponsible sexual behaviour and other social challenges.
To counter this, Jangut has been organizing groups of young people to participate in sports, including football and volleyball, in the Soy B area of Uasin Gishu County.
He believes sports can keep young people physically and mentally engaged while providing opportunities for them to develop their talents and earn a livelihood.
“Keeping young people busy through meaningful activities can help prevent them from engaging in drugs and other destructive behaviour,” he says.
He wants government agencies, community organisations and other stakeholders to invest more in youth programmes that combine talent development, skills training, mentorship, and leadership.
Despite making several attempts to seek assistance from government agencies and NGOs to implement initiatives aimed at improving community livelihoods, Jangut says he has not received the support he needs.
He says his efforts have often ended with promises that have not translated into tangible assistance.
Jangut believes his experience in the President’s Award-Kenya could be put to greater use through community projects targeting young people.
He wants to use his leadership and life experiences to promote peaceful coexistence, empower youth, and encourage them to take an active role in community development.
With the country gradually moving towards another electioneering period, he says young people have a particularly important role to play in promoting peace and discouraging violence.
He believes youth can be mobilized as peace ambassadors at the community level, using their influence among their peers to encourage tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and participation in development.
Jangut says he is ready to use his experience to educate young people on the importance of peace and responsible citizenship but needs an opportunity to present and implement his ideas.
Beyond youth advocacy, he is pursuing his passion for gospel music, using his songs to encourage and empower young people to remain resilient in the face of life’s challenges.
His music focuses on messages of hope, perseverance and empowerment, reflecting his own journey from dropping out of school to becoming a youth organizer, President’s Award Gold Award holder and aspiring community leader.
For Jangut, the message is simple: young people do not merely need to be told what to do—they need to be heard, supported and given opportunities.
He believes that when the youth are provided with the right platforms, mentorship and resources, they can transform their talents and ideas into solutions for their communities and become a strong engine of Kenya’s social and economic development.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
