Presidential aspirant Dr Reuben Kigame has held a high-level engagement with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, with discussions focusing on youth employment, professional training and the future of Kenya’s creative industry.

Kigame said he paid Mudavadi a courtesy call at his office, where the two leaders exchanged ideas on how to create more opportunities for young people, particularly in Vihiga County, while exploring broader strategies for unlocking the potential of Kenya’s creative economy.

According to Kigame, the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges facing young people and possible interventions that can help equip them with practical and professional skills needed to compete in an increasingly demanding job market.

He said greater investment in professional training could help bridge the gap between education and employment by ensuring that young people acquire skills that respond to the needs of the economy.

The presidential aspirant also placed emphasis on the creative industry, which he said has significant potential to provide employment and income opportunities for thousands of young Kenyans.

He argued that artists, musicians, actors, content creators and other players in the creative sector require stronger institutional and financial support to enable them to turn their talents into sustainable livelihoods.

Kigame said the conversation with Mudavadi also touched on ways of expanding support for the creative industry nationally and creating an environment where young people can develop their talents while contributing to Kenya’s economic growth.

The engagement is notable because Kigame and Mudavadi have occupied different political positions and have at times held divergent ideological views. However, Kigame said their political differences have not prevented them from maintaining a cordial relationship and engaging in discussions on issues affecting the country.

“Despite our ideological differences, we have remained friends and continue to exchange ideas on the possibility of a brand new Kenya,” Kigame said.

The meeting comes at a time when youth employment, skills development and economic empowerment are expected to remain major issues in Kenya’s political discourse ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Young people continue to seek better access to employment, entrepreneurship opportunities, technical training and platforms through which they can turn their skills and talents into sustainable careers.

Kigame has increasingly positioned youth empowerment and economic opportunity as important components of his political agenda, arguing that Kenya requires deliberate investment in its human capital if it is to achieve inclusive economic growth.

The discussions with Mudavadi also point to the possibility of continued engagement among political leaders across ideological and political divides on matters of national interest.

For Vihiga County, the focus on professional training and job creation is particularly significant, as the county continues to seek ways of expanding economic opportunities for its youthful population.

Kigame said he believes constructive dialogue among leaders, regardless of their political differences, can help generate ideas capable of addressing some of the country’s most pressing challenges.

The presidential aspirant maintained that Kenya can build a better future by investing in young people, supporting talent and creating opportunities for citizens to participate meaningfully in the economy.

His meeting with Mudavadi therefore comes as part of broader conversations on the kind of Kenya the country should pursue, with youth employment, skills development and the creative economy emerging as key areas requiring sustained attention and investment.