Gov't to host South Korean researchers to study challenges facing Gen Zs

Youthful Protesters demonstrating along Kangemi along Waiyaki way during the 35th anniversary of Saba Saba on July 7, 2025.[Benard Orwongo, Standard]

Kenya is set to host a team of scholars from South Korea’s Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) in a groundbreaking study aimed at unpacking the complex challenges facing Kenyan youths.

In a statement released on Monday, July 14, the State Department for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy said the team will conduct a comprehensive survey to explore social, psychological, economic, and political issues affecting young people.

According to the Ministry, the goal of the research is to inform policy interventions and unlock opportunities for cross-country collaboration on youth development.

The research will be led by Professor Jeon Only, Director of the Africa Human Resource Development Centre at HUFS’s Institute of African Studies, and his counterpart, Professor Bae Yuh Jin, Director of the Centre for African Culture and History at the same institute.

“The youth demographic is a challenge not only in Kenya but across the world, and the need to understand them is critical to inform appropriate policy interventions for their needs,” the directors noted.

The Ministry further revealed that Hankuk University is among four South Korean institutions that have applied for government research grants to explore youth development in Africa.

This expression of interest comes at a time when Kenyan youth are visibly reshaping civic discourse, particularly through social media and protest movements that demand accountability and improved governance.

Since the landmark protests of June 25, 2024, young people have taken to the streets in waves of demonstrations, amplifying their voices like never before. 

President William Ruto has since issued stern warnings against looting and vandalism, even authorising security officers to "shoot culprits in the leg," remarks that have stirred emotions amongst the youths.

Despite the rising tension, politicians and religious leaders continue to call for calm and dialogue, urging both the government and the youth to find common ground.

Details about when the research will commence remain unknown.