A Kenyan youth stunned the audience at State House after he seized the moment and delivered a heartfelt prayer in Shembeteng, a fast-evolving urban slang among Kenyan youths.
The event, part of a youth engagement forum hosted by the president on Saturday, August 9, took an unexpected turn when the youth was given an opportunity to make the prayer in Shembeteng, just moments after Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi had prayed in English.
Taking the microphone, the youth wowed the audience, including the president, as he boldly delivered the prayer in the language that has rapidly evolved in the city.
In the prayer, he thanked God for the opportunity to be part of the empowerment forum organised by the president and prayed for the Head of State to complete two terms.
Finally, he finished the prayer by asking the president for an opportunity to be part of the few youths who will be handed boda bodas to start a business.
The prayer, laced with streetwise rhyme, drew smiles and applause from attendees, including senior government officials and the youths who were in attendance.
President Ruto, known for his embrace of youth culture and digital innovation, nodded appreciatively to the request of the youth, agreeing that he would get one of the boda bodas popularly referred to as 'Senke' by the youth.
Shembeteng, often interpreted as a coded slang, has grown into a deep linguistic sensation among the Kenyan youth.
It originated from Sheng, a hybrid of Swahili, English, and local dialects; however, Shembeteng pushes further by twisting phonetics, reversing syllables, and, in turn, invents an entirely new language.
Shembeteng began as a niche form of communication among Nairobi youths in the inner Eastlands estates; however, now it is breaking barriers and being adopted in social media, music, and even mainstream media.
And now, the language is getting national recognition after it made its way to the state house, before the president.
During the empowerment forum, President Ruto handed over boda bodas, washing machines, barber sets, salon sets and other items to boost businesses among the youths in the capital city.
