Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi Speaking during a high-level breakfast meeting hosted by Machakos University. Photo Andrew Mbuva 
By Andrew Mbuva
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi has called on the Government to listen to the cries of Kenyans, urging for a review of policies that are fueling public discontent.
Speaking during a high-level breakfast meeting hosted by Machakos University and led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Joyce Agalo, the Deputy Governor emphasized the central role of education in driving national development and solving key societal challenges such as unemployment.
“Nobody hates the current government,” Mwangangi stated. “People are simply against some of its policies. If only the government can lend a listening ear and rethink these policies, we can move forward as one nation.”
The Deputy Governor stressed the need to return to the development-focused approach championed by former President Mwai Kibaki, particularly in the education sector.
“We must go back to the road President Kibaki left us on and perfect it. When it comes to financing our education sector, we can’t afford to play around. Education is the foundation of every successful nation,” he said.
Mwangangi painted a vision of a united leadership front that prioritizes youth empowerment and employment creation through deliberate policy alignment between academia and industry.
“I look forward to a day when all leaders will come together to forge a common path towards ending unemployment. It is possible to run serious incubation programs that can absorb thousands of jobless youths — and it can happen right here in this university,” he noted.
He urged stakeholders in education and governance to critically evaluate current policies and create a national environment where education serves as a tool for transformation and opportunity.
“In any developed country, education is at the center of policy implementation. In developing nations, there is a visible link between what comes out of higher learning institutions and what goes into industry. That synergy is what we are missing, and we can fix it — starting here in Machakos.”
The meeting at Machakos University brought together educationists, county officials, and stakeholders with a shared goal of harnessing education to address local and national development needs.
