From Power to Reflection: Ex-Kenyan Deputy Minister Nadia Abdalla Shares Her Path, Challenges, and Insights
Nadia Ahmed Abdalla, Kenya’s former deputy minister for ICT, innovation and youth affairs, has opened up about her unlikely rise to political office at just 29 – and the challenges of transitioning out of government.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (3 September), Abdalla recounted how she was appointed in 2020 by the former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta even though she had never met him or lobbied for the role.
“I didn’t even care about government because I was a typical young person, living my life and thinking government isn’t designed for us,” she told the ABS.
Her sudden elevation from an ordinary life in Mombasa to Nairobi’s corridors of power shocked even her family.
“Nobody believed it until the media announced it,” Abdalla recalled. “I come from a middle-class family, and as a young Muslim woman from the Swahili minority, people just couldn’t believe it was possible.”
Abdalla said she embraced the role with determination, driven by her vision to defy stereotypes. “My goal was to embrace that opportunity and make the most out of it. If you tell me I can’t do something, I’ll make sure I show you I can.”
Sustain the youth
The transition out of office, however, was not easy. “Six months in, I crashed. I realised I was still pushing a narrative that was gone. I hadn’t even grieved my mother, who passed while I was in government. It was a bundle of confusion and trying to find my identity,” Abdalla said.
She believes African politicians struggle with mental health after leaving office because there is no structured support system. “Every politician should go for therapy and prepare for transition. Otherwise, they fight desperately to cling on, even when they’re no longer effective.”
During her time in office, Abdalla launched youth-focused initiatives such as Kenya Ni Mimi (“Kenya Is Me”) and Ndoto Halisi (“Your Dreams Are Valid”), which encouraged and empowered marginalised young people – especially girls – to believe in their potential. “The day you find your voice is the day you promise yourself never to be quiet,” she said.
Today, Nadia Ahmed Abdalla works in the development space, mentoring young Africans and helping them connect education with community solutions. “Politics limits you, but development work expands you,” she explained.
Reflecting on Kenya’s current trajectory, Abdalla warned that the government risks alienating the youth.
“The Kenya of today doesn’t care about young people,” she said. “Leaders need to understand that Africa is the youngest continent. Young people have the solutions – governments must build ecosystems to sustain them.”
Asked if she would return to government if invited, Abdalla smiled. “I love my country,” she said. “I am happy where I am right now. If the call comes, I’ll consider it – but for now, I’m focused on creating change from outside.”
