Kenyan delegates pose for a photo at the Russian Embassy/ Tracy MuthoniFor more than 20 Kenyan young people, September 11 will mark the beginning of a journey that could stretch far beyond the borders of Kenya.
The delegation is set to travel to Russia for the International Festival of Youth, which will take place from September 11 to 17, 2026, in Ekaterinburg.
The global gathering is expected to bring together 10,000 young people from 191 countries, creating a platform for exchanging ideas, cultures and innovations while fostering people-to-people connections.
For Kenyan participant Linda, the excitement is already building. She says being selected to attend the festival is an honour and an opportunity to learn, explore and interact with young people from different parts of the world.
“I am so excited and ready to explore,” Linda said.
For her, the trip is not simply about visiting a new country. It is an opportunity to gain new experiences, exchange ideas and return home with a broader understanding of the world.
The festival programme includes discussions, cultural activities, volunteering, team-building exercises, educational sessions and opportunities to interact with young people from different countries.
After the main programme, some participants will also take part in regional programmes across Russia.
The official programme provides for 1,000 foreign participants to join 33 regional programmes across 35 regions, giving them an opportunity to experience local communities, cultures, nature and different parts of the country.
For Russian Ambassador to Kenya Vsevolod Tkachenko, the experience should be approached with an open mind.
“You will have an exciting journey ahead with many meetings, discussions, joint activities and opportunities to speak with young people from different countries,” he told the Kenyan delegation during a special pre-departure engagement.
The ambassador said young people have a critical role to play in shaping conversations about the future.
“We live in a turbulent and rapidly changing world when questions are raised about how the future is going to look. I believe that young people have a special role to play in this dialogue,” he said.
He urged the Kenyan participants to engage openly, listen to different opinions and seek common ground.
Richard Wambua, head of the World Youth Festival Project Office in Kenya, also challenged the delegation to go beyond assumptions about Russia.
His message was simple: experience the country for themselves.
“You need to experience it. You need to see it for yourself. You need to be there,” Wambua said.
He encouraged the young people to “unlearn everything” they think they know about Russia and embrace new experiences.
For Wambua, the delegation also carries a bigger responsibility — strengthening relations between Kenya and Russia through youth.
"You will be ambassadors of peace and ambassadors of the great friendship that we bear with this beautiful country that is, Russia,” he said.
He urged the participants to document their experiences and share them with other young people back home.
The festival therefore comes with more than a suitcase and a boarding pass. For Kenya’s young delegates, it is a chance to learn, connect and represent their country on a global stage.
And when they return, they will carry with them stories from Russia — and perhaps new ideas, friendships and opportunities that began thousands of kilometres from home.
Russian ambassador to Kenya Vsevolod Tkachenko addressing participants heading for the WYF in russia /Tracy Muthoni
