Sheida Mutuku Advises Government on Urban Youth Housing & Africa’s Prosperity

At the 2nd Africa Urban Forum (AUF2) parallel session organised by the Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI), Woodside CEO Sheida Mutuku delivered a strong message to governments and stakeholders on the future of youth housing and Africa’s economic transformation.

The session, led by Vera Bukachi, the Executive Director of Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI), brought together a predominantly youthful audience, reflecting growing urgency across the continent for practical solutions to Africa’s urban and housing challenges.

High-level representation included Charlene Ruto, Salim Mvurya, and senior government officials such as Susan Mang’eni and Fikirini Jacobs.

Also present were representatives from the African Development Bank Group, Shelter Afrique Development Bank, and Safaricom PLC.

Youth at the Centre of Africa’s Prosperity

Mutuku emphasized that Africa’s future prosperity is inseparable from its youth population, noting that the continent’s development agenda must be deliberately youth-centred.

She observed, “What does Africa’s Prosperity look like? While there is no single definition, the convergence point is clear – the youth are right at the centre of the continent’s progress.”

She further warned against repeating past development mistakes, questioning:

“Why do we continue to tread as before? Why do we assume that the last five decades will be any different from the next?”

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Call for Afri-Centric Systems and Innovation

A central theme of her message was the need to rethink Africa’s development architecture, particularly in finance, technology, and enterprise models.

She argued that the continent remains constrained by outdated systems:

• legacy financial structures
• imported technology frameworks
• non-contextual business models

To reverse this, she called for the adoption of Afri-centric corporate sustainability, technology, and capital systems designed for Africa’s realities and ambitions.

Unlocking Youth Productivity Through Integrated Development

Mutuku highlighted that Africa’s youth demographic can only become a “talentic force” if supported by a strong social infrastructure.

She stated that youth development must go beyond population statistics.

“A fully productive youth must be supported by a solid well-being ecosystem, underlined by quality social infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, sports facilities, creative arts hubs, and of course… affordable housing,” she said.

She added that housing should not be treated as a standalone issue: “Youth housing must never exist in isolation. It must never be reduced to mere brick and mortar.”

Instead, she advocated for integrated, dignified, and lifestyle-oriented urban environments.

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Investment and the Role of African Capital

On investment, Mutuku urged African stakeholders to take a more central role in shaping the continent’s future.

While welcoming foreign investors, she stressed they should remain complementary rather than dominant players in African development projects.

This aligns with the vision behind Keja Poa Youth Housing, a flagship initiative under the $35 billion Africa Social Infrastructure Fund (ASIF), designed to deliver green, smart, and affordable housing at scale.

She concluded by inviting impact investors, institutions, and partners to support the Keja Poa initiative, emphasizing the need for collective action to build sustainable urban futures for Africa’s youth.

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Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Fikirini Jacobs, Woodside CEO, Sheida Mutuku, and other attendees at the 2nd Africa Urban Forum (AUF2). PHOTO/ KDI.