“Senke” Moment: Shembeteng Prayer Steals State House Youth Forum

Nairobi, Kenya – At a youth empowerment forum hosted at State House on Saturday, August 9, 2025, the proceedings took a vibrant turn when a young man delivered a prayer in Shembeteng—an inventive, evolving urban slang that pushes the boundaries of mainstream Sheng. 

The Shembeteng Prayer That Captured the Crowd

Right after Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi delivered an opening prayer in English, the unexpected—and electrifying—Shembeteng invocation began

“Bana, tungatile macho tupaseji joo…” (“Let’s close our eyes and pray…”)

“Sir Gugda…we pray that our President behind here finishes his two terms without trouble. Amen.”

Then cheekily adding: “I came here on foot, at least let me leave with a motorbike.”

The prayer ended with applause and laughter. President Ruto, visibly amused, nodded and later promised the youth the requested “Senke”—a boda boda motorcycle—eliciting further cheers. 

Shembeteng: More Than Just Slang

Shembeteng is a creative offshoot of Sheng. It introduces quirky syllables—like “mbata,” “mbete,” “mboti”—and reversals, adding rhythm and flair to everyday speech. Originating from Nairobi’s Eastlands estates, it has rapidly leapt into national recognition via music, social media, and now State House. A Showcase of Youth Culture & Empowerment

The youth forum aligned with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation initiative aimed at uplifting small businesses. Over 15,000 youths attended, many arriving on foot. In addition to motorcycles, the government distributed water tanks, wheelbarrows, washing machines, salon and barber equipment, lawn mowers, and generators to more than 1,100 youth groups.

President Ruto emphasized:

“Today’s empowerment of more than 1,100 business groups in Nairobi confirms our dedication… We are not stopping there.”

He announced that from next month, 70 youths in each of Kenya’s 1,450 wards will receive KSh 50,000 to launch or expand ventures—part of a joint effort with the World Bank.

What This Moment Represents

This unplanned cultural highlight at State House was emblematic:

• Youth Culture on Stage: The Shembeteng prayer—a blend of humor, terseness, and identity—demonstrated how urban youth are crafting a visible linguistic legacy.

• Bridging Generations: The moment served as a powerful cultural bridge between young generation and the centre of power.

• Empowerment in Practice: Through the distribution of tools and capital, the government underlined its narrative that “Every Hustle Matters.”