Nairobi, Kenya – American pastor and former NFL player Dr. Rickey Bolden delivered a powerful and emotional message during Kenya’s 22nd National Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday, urging the country’s leaders to confront the growing disconnect between the government and Generation Z.
Speaking before a high-profile audience that included President William Ruto, First Lady Rachel Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Chief Justice Martha Koome, parliamentary leaders, and members of the diplomatic corps, Bolden called for a bold reckoning with the frustrations and unmet expectations of Kenya’s youth. The theme of the gathering was Arise and Rebuild.
“Gen Z is dying,” Bolden declared. “And I’m speaking as a father of Gen Z children. They are dying to be loved, dying for a seat at the table, dying to be respected. We often want to keep our children as children forever—but Gen Z has grown up.”
Bolden’s remarks struck a chord amid rising tensions between young people and the government, fueled by recent protests and online activism. He criticized the administration’s crackdown on youth demonstrations, particularly the use of force and internet shutdowns, warning that such tactics only deepen generational mistrust.
“We shut down the internet, and we know that’s your primary form of communication,” he said. “We are sorry. Now we want to bring you to the table so that you can have a voice—because you are no longer children. You are adults.”
The Dallas-based preacher emphasized that inclusion of young people in national leadership should not be symbolic but intentional and practical. He challenged the notion that Gen Z is merely the future.
“They are the now,” he said. “They are entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers—and in many cases, wiser than we are. The most frustrating thing you can do to a Gen Z adult is to keep treating them like a child.”
Drawing from his American context, Bolden compared Kenya’s generational divide to the racial divisions in the United States, where historical injustices linger due to a lack of acknowledgment.
“Race is still a flashpoint in America because no one ever said, ‘I’m sorry.’ Apology doesn’t erase history—it opens the door to healing,” he said.
A former Miami Dolphins player, Bolden’s NFL career was cut short by injury. Since then, he has become one of the world’s most sought-after pastors, known for his storytelling and sermons that blend faith, leadership, and moral courage.
His message in Nairobi served as both a spiritual call and a political challenge: to rebuild not only infrastructure and institutions, but trust between generations—starting with listening, respect, and meaningful inclusion.
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