His book, The Gen Z Parent: From Confusion to Connection, offers a fresh perspective on how to build meaningful relationships with Generation Z, a group that now dominates discussions not only in parenting but also in governance and the workplace.
Generation Z, often referred to as Gen Z, generally includes individuals born between 1997 and 2012. This would make the current age range for Gen Z roughly 13 to 28 years old.
Sekoh’s book stands out as a practical manual that equips parents to understand generational conflicts and the internal struggles that often shape the mindset of young people. He proposes three key perspectives in approaching Gen Z: understanding where they come from, where they are going and the world they inhabit.
While the book touches on larger societal challenges — like the tension between Gen Z and older generations in politics and governance — Sekoh chooses to focus on repairing the breakdown in relationships through the lens of parenting.
"In light of the foregoing, most of us tend to learn the hard way insofar as parenting Gen Z and Gen Alpha is concerned. Albeit gradually, we realise issuing marching orders often amounts to nothing but an exercise in futility," Sekoh writes in the book’s introduction.
The 10-chapter book is easy to navigate and treats each subject with clarity and depth. For example, in the chapter titled Background Factor and a Parent’s Excesses, Sekoh shares the story of losing both his parents at the age of 17, a painful and devastating experience.
He argues that parenting must be deliberate and intentional. According to him, the way we were raised can unconsciously influence how we raise our own children, unless we are actively aware and break unhealthy patterns.
For married couples, Sekoh warns that the husband’s relationship with his wife plays a vital role in how he connects with his children.
"I lost some ground in my relationship with my children every time I permitted them to witness any form of antagonism in the way I related with their mother," Sekoh admits.
VALUE OF MENTORSHIP
The author’s love for mentorship is evident throughout the book. When writing about networks and net worth, he urges the younger generation to pursue their passions relentlessly. In his motivational talks, he also stresses the importance of building meaningful relationships in the pursuit of their goals.
Perhaps the most powerful chapter is the one on the art of listening, a skill Sekoh believes is severely lacking both in households and in government.
He reflects on the June 2024 protests against the Finance Bill in Kenya, which led to the burning of Parliament. He believes this event holds deep lessons for both parents and those in power:
“It is sad to own up to the fact that failure to listen to our children could easily plunge us into a worse situation than what we witnessed in June-July 2024 protests.”
Sekoh also explores themes of character, values and technology. He emphasises that parenting is not just about providing a comfortable lifestyle but also about nurturing children’s moral and emotional development. While technology is here to stay, Sekoh warns that it must be used responsibly, especially when it comes to what children consume online.
He urges parents not to leave children alone with their devices.
"Handhold them and help them to safely navigate the murky waters of technology. Unrestricted access is the reason so many children got hooked to pornographic addictions that are literally devouring their lives," he says.
“Such regrettable situations could be avoided if children are hand-held, mentored and instructed in a manner that steers them off these vices.”
The book also delves into drug and substance abuse, addiction and sexuality. In a chapter that boldly addresses sex and sexuality, Sekoh confronts a topic that many parents avoid. He questions how society has made sex a taboo topic between parents and their children. This silence, he argues, leaves children to seek answers from questionable sources.
He encourages parents to return to the basics by initiating conversations about sex and sexuality from as early as age 10.
"They ought to be taught, point-blank, about all the dangers of premarital sex and why they must abstain. They must be taught that purity is priceless and why it must be treasured."
Sekoh draws heavily from biblical principles and personal life experiences, making the reading experience both practical and spiritually enriching.
His decision to write the book comes as no surprise to those familiar with his passion for mentorship and strong belief in moral guidance. He is the founding chairman of Africa’s Promise, an international NGO focused on youth empowerment. He is also a public speaker, mentor and serves on the boards of several organisations.
The Gen Z Parent: From Confusion to Connection is currently available on Amazon and at Nuria Bookstore. It retails at Sh1,299.
