After the tours that exposed them to the workings of the highest levels of Government and literally rubbing shoulders with the high and mighty of this land, they were finally honoured with a face to face interaction with the Head of State.
President Kenyatta said the aim of the mentorship program was to inspire them to understand that they can be great achievers no matter their background.
He said leaders have a responsibility to inspire the youth to believe in their ability to succeed and to become citizens who contribute to the prosperity of the country.
“The future is in your hands. All we can do is to inspire you, to encourage you and to support you,” he said.
He told the youth to cherish unity and their shared dreams because the limits of how much they will achieve will be determined by the ability to work with their compatriots.
“The one thing that keeps and bonds you together is not your colour, your religion or your tribe but it is your dreams. It is your dreams and hopes for this country that makes you a Kenyan,” he said.
The President advised the youth to work hard, to be patriotic citizens and to be role models for their peers.
He urged them to be citizens with integrity and never to look for short cuts.
“When you serve the country, you serve yourself but when you serve yourself alone you will perish,” he said.
The President also encouraged the youth to be ready for challenges of the world because the road to success is never a smooth ride.
“Do not believe that there will be no challenges but remember that your greatness will be determined by how many times you wake up and continue with the fight to become great,” he said.
President Kenyatta asked the students to inspire their colleagues when they go back to their schools and homes.
He wished them success in their future and expressed his wish that one of them will one day become the leader of the country.
“I hope and pray that one amongst you here tonight will one day sit on this chair and inspire Kenyans,” he told the first batch of students to go through the mentoring program.
The second batch of students will start their program next month.
The criteria for selecting students to join the mentoring program is not limited to academic performance alone but will in future encompass factors such as talent and innovation as the PURES program aims to promote well-rounded youth achievers.
At the end of the program, President Kenyatta presented each of the students with a tablet to use at school and a certificate.
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