By Special Correspondent
Walter Okelo Mentorship Program orchestrated a groundbreaking Valentine Edition of Party in the Park at Governor’s Park in Siaya, drawing huge numbers of young people under the electrifying theme of Love, Leadership and Unity. This was not a typical romantic celebration. It was a powerhouse platform for edifying self love, community affection, talent appreciation and civic responsibility, where issuance of National IDs and voter registration marked resounding success. As Walter Okelo himself shared, Big thank you to all the young people who turned up in huge numbers for the Valentine Edition of the Party in the Park, hosted by the Walter Okelo Mentorship Program at the Governor’s Park, Siaya. Under the theme of Love, Leadership and Unity, the occasion provided a platform for edification of self love, love for community, talent appreciation as well as civic responsibility. Issuance of National IDs and Voters registration was a success. Forward Together. #SiayaEnWan. In the heart of Siaya County, as the sun dipped low on February 14, 2026, hundreds flooded the park, their energy transforming Valentine’s Day from fleeting romance into an enduring clarion call for empowerment. Hosted masterfully by the Walter Okelo Mentorship Program, the event delivered 104 National ID registrations, vital gateways to formal employment, scholarships and banking, 30 new voter enrollments empowering voices in elections, and 1,600 youth directly engaging with Kuza Africa’s Shujaaz Art and Comic Book series. These vibrant comics, illustrated with bold colors and Luo infused narratives, tackle gritty real life challenges head on, including mental health battles such as anxiety and depression through stories of resilient teens overcoming stigma, sexual and reproductive health education through candid tales of informed choices amid peer pressure, sports journeys of underdogs rising through sheer grit, and talent discovery arcs that mirror hidden artists breaking free. It proved that one visionary program can ignite national change, with Okelo, the dynamic 2027 Siaya senatorial aspirant, steering toward a united, leader packed future.
Love pulsed vibrantly beyond bouquets and ballads, channeling an unshakeable commitment to Siaya’s soil and souls. The Walter Okelo Mentorship Program reframed the day with intimate booths where counselors guided self love workshops, encouraging youth to affirm their worth amid societal pressures, while community love stations featured testimonials from elders and peers on collective upliftment. Youths queued eagerly for National IDs amid laughter and live beats, not chasing selfies, but claiming tools for real agency, documents that dissolve barriers to hustles like digital freelancing or agribusiness loans. Okelo’s heartfelt message amplifies this. His profound thank you honors those weaving self love into community bonds, transmuting emotion into enduring action. In Kenya’s youth landscape, scarred by unemployment and rural neglect, this love cultivates responsibility, compassion and exponential growth, urging attendees to treasure partners as allies, families as anchors, friends as motivators and Siaya as a canvas for progress. Rooted in Okelo’s advocacy, the program casts love as rocket fuel for resilience, reviving Kenya’s legacy of people powered victories from independence to devolution, now supercharged by Siaya’s trailblazing young firebrands.
Leadership blazed through hands on triumphs, propelled by the Walter Okelo Mentorship Program’s deliberate strategy. With 104 IDs issued on site by efficient registration teams and 27 fresh voter cards processed through streamlined electoral kiosks complete with biometric capture and instant verification, the gathering mobilized futures without pomp. The main stage erupted as Papa T dropped soul stirring anthems on perseverance, Japesa fused Afrobeat with Luo rhythms to energize the crowd, Onyulo’s poetic flows dissected leadership myths, Starlight Models strutted empowering fashion that defied stereotypes, Siaya and Kisumu TikTokers ignited viral dance challenges blending humor and hustle, Icon Dance Crew synchronized gravity defying moves symbolizing unity, MC Jeff delivered comedy woven with civic calls to action, and Hype Kish orchestrated the frenzy with unmatched charisma. Rap battles confronted corruption, spoken word performances challenged mental health stigma, visual artists live painted murals celebrating voter empowerment, comedians dismantled apathy with satire, and digital creators amplified every moment across social platforms. Leadership was demystified. It required no elite pedigree, only courage, clarity and commitment. Okelo’s program embodies this conviction, equipping a generation with voter awareness, civic knowledge, skill recognition and the confidence to claim space in governance and enterprise alike. It presents a replicable model where civic engagement and creative expression walk hand in hand to build accountable communities.
Unity emerged as the radiant culmination of the gathering, weaving Siaya’s diverse creatives into a shared force of purpose. Talents poured in from different wards, dance crews moving in synchronized rhythm, rappers echoing shared aspirations, TikTok influencers bridging digital divides, all connected by the Shujaaz comics that resonated deeply with their lived experiences. Stories of young people navigating reproductive health questions, confronting mental health struggles, rising through sports and discovering artistic gifts reflected the very faces in the park. Okelo’s rallying call, Forward Together. #SiayaEnWan, captured the spirit of collective stride. His gratitude was not ceremonial. It was an affirmation that progress is communal. In a nation often strained by division and economic hardship, the gathering modeled unity as strength, empathy as currency and shared responsibility as destiny. The Mentorship Program’s open platform encouraged cross county collaboration, peer mentorship and intergenerational dialogue, turning a Valentine celebration into a civic awakening.
Skeptics may attempt to reduce such an initiative to political ambition, yet the Walter Okelo Mentorship Program’s sustained investment in mentorship, youth mobilization and tangible outcomes speaks for itself. The crowds, the IDs issued, the voter registrations processed and the thousands reached through educational comics signal momentum anchored in service. In Siaya’s evolving landscape of devolution, the program redefines what youth inclusion can look like. Nationally, it confronts apathy and economic uncertainty by merging celebration with responsibility, talent with transformation, gratitude with governance. By blending music, mentorship and mobilization, the program makes empowerment accessible and inspiring rather than abstract.
As the lights dimmed over Governor’s Park and conversations lingered long after the music softened, one truth stood firm. The Walter Okelo Mentorship Program had not merely hosted an event. It had cultivated a movement. Walter Okelo’s words of appreciation continue to echo, Big thank you to all the young people who turned up in huge numbers. Forward Together. Siaya’s Valentine gathering became more than a date on the calendar.
It became a declaration that when young people are trusted, equipped and united, they rise not only to celebrate love, but to practice leadership and embody unity. Forward together is not just a slogan. It is a direction. And in Siaya, that direction is firmly set toward a future shaped by empowered youth and shared purpose.
