Youth and governance

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THE POSITION OF YOUTHS IN LEADERSHIP, GOVERNANCE, AND
ENHANCING ECONOMIC GROWTH OF MOTHER KENYA.
Youths remain the forgotten fortune lagging behind the National growth of most states
and Mother Kenya aint an exception. I borrow from a beautiful say that goes, “the youth
is the fuel that drives growth in any visionary government without which a government
takes an eternal oath of stagnation. It’s high time we break the silence on the crisis of
youth underutility that has sired solid stagnation on our economic growth owing to the
fact that it’s the most productive and largest age group in the demographic pyramid.
Background check on the institution of the youth;
i. According to United Nations it is persons aged 15 to 24 years
ii. According to Africa Youth Charter, it is persons aged 15 to 35years
iii. According to Article 260, it is persons aged 18 to 34years
It is a national obligation and Constitutional right of the youths to be diligently served
in the below premises as envisaged in Article 55.
i. Access relevant education and training
ii. Have opportunities to associate, be represented and participate in political,
social, economic and other spheres of life.
iii. Access employment
iv. Protection from harmful cultural practices and exploitation
The youths stretch to the category on article 54 (disabled) and 56 (marginalized). The
position of the youths should be central to any government’s agenda for progressive
and substantive national economic growth and indeed ultimate realization of country’s
vision, mission and ambitions. It’s a toll order for youths to wake up and seek positions
of power or authority so as they voice decisions on how they want government to run
and not heckle from a hopeless point on pain and unbearable distress the poor
governance dictated on them midwifed. We youths must stand out and not blend in by
the words of John Mason. The envied and respected leaders of today were once youths

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who believed in their strength of purpose and the foreseeable vision of their country/the
future generation. In Kenya we have several youths doing great things in their various
levels (professionals, politicians, businessmen, activists etc) just to mention a few of
those who woke up from the slumber of doubt and endured the tough terrain of
uncertainties to breath a legacy of hope to the institution of youth are the likes of Bobi
Wine, Babu Owino, Amos Onyango from PLO Foundation, Boniface Mwangi, Larry
Madowo, Jalang’o Daniel Ndambuki, Johnson Sakaja, among many great young men
and women doing the youths proud and instilling confidence in them in various ways.
Its in history that great revolutionists that liberated their countries from rotten systems
were youths and to shout a few names in the category we can’t afford to forget the
mighty sacrifices of James Orengo, Thomas Sankara, Raila Odinga, Obama, Martin
Luther King Jnr, PLO Lumumba, Bishop Njoya, Nelson Mandela, Patrice Lumumba,
J.F. Kennedy, Museveni, Gitobu Imanyara, Former C.J. Mutunga, Steve Biko, Jaramogi
Oginga, Jomo Kenyatta, Robert ouko, Tom Mboya, J.M. Kariuki, Odhiambo Mbai,
Kwame Nkrumah, Paul Muite,koigi wamwere among many men and women who
overlooked their youth and pursued their dreams. Most of these leaders never smelt the
rose of opulence/affluence many perceive to be essential in enhancing change; all they
had was a determined will for tenacity of purpose, zeal for human rights and resilience
for liberation. What went wrong with us youths? Where did the wind of change started
blowing? We need a soul searched response to these questions. I feel we haven’t been
pained enough, if we will, the streets will cry with sorrow and the pursuit for liberation
will outmatch the unprecedented “tekayo instinct” of those entrusted to lead us and
freedom eventually shall reign. In the Holy Book Mathew 11:12, it said, the kingdom
suffers violence and the violent take it by force. Do we imagine the much we can
achieve with unity against the plight of division? Aren’t we tired of selling kidneys to
buy whiskey? The youth is the most fundamental asset of national development for it
determines the direction of our nation and sets blueprint for the next generation.
Freedom we are enjoying today was as a result of sacrifices from people at the point of
struggle for change were youths on whose main mission was to live a life of purpose
with an indelible mark on the heart of the next generation. Nothing thrives on a comfort
zone and indeed success is as a result of sacrifices and risks even Jesus, the most of all

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dynasties had to assume humanity form from his supernatural ancestry, endure
crucifixion and death to save humanity from sin not to forget his earthly humble
background outfit from a carpenter father. We need the faith of Abraham blended with
Solomonic wisdom and strength of Samson as we pursue what is rightfully ours. We
deserve better. We need to be felt, heard, live and leave a legacy. For our dreams to be
achieved, we need unceasing insatiable appetite for change. The change starts with us,
let’s be the change we want to see.
I however thank His Excellency for his great blend with the youths, unceasing agitation
for their participation on the national cake and commendable representation on various
spheres but still more is yet to be done. The government needs to graduate from being
passive to being intentional on matters pertaining youths. We can’t underscore the
pronouncements by president at Bomas 7th
December, 2020 during “Kenya Ni Mimi”
urging youths to be in the arena and be trendsetters not followers. On 5th
August, 2020
during international youth day as a global youth leader of youth agenda, he
demonstrated the need to train, educate and create jobs for the youth. January 31st
2021
at Sagana, Nyeri, we urged youth to take charge of their future. The president as the
CEO of the country should lead the process of fixing political malpractice that bar youth
from active participation in the political space and all government sectors. The
government is therefore responsible for all that appertains the Institution of the youths.
Now as a youth, I have some piece of cake worth sharing in the table of governance in
the best interest of our growth.
 Financial Incentives for youth driven entrepreneurship
• Provision of targeted exemptions to all businesses registered by Kenyan
youths
• Exemption on VAT
• Exemption on company taxes
• Exemption on Municipal Levies
 Financial incentives for youths on employment

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• Complete subsidization of employee contributions such as NSSF, PAYE,
NHIF etc
 Upscaling TVET Education to serve labour intensive industries
• Investment and capacity building for existing TVET institutions
• Create new targeted TVET Institutions in the following industries;
Manufacturing & Logistics Sectors
 Optimization of the Agriculture and Food Production Sector
• Funding/promoting Agribusiness research by learning institutions, deploying
of agricultural graduates to rural farms across Kenya
• Agribusiness training and capacity building of farmers from rural
cooperatives and farms.
• Supporting urban farming in cities/towns using available technology
 Sensitization programmes for youth involvement initiatives
• Youths in power should advocate for programs/platforms where they conduct
thorough mentorship/nurturing of youthful participation in running
government affairs.
 Optimizing integrity and transparency in the employment sector using the
tools of power
• This helps seal loopholes that deny qualified Kenyans jobs such as bribes,
“connections” etc
 Align course with market need
• The institutions of learning should provide the careers that will solve the
problems in the country thus creating opportunities for those involved in the
careers.

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 Implement conclusively and comprehensively Chapter 4 on the bill of
rights to tame punitive acts the youths
 Revise Government Policies or Laws to a youth friendly status
 Prioritize mental health of youth through Dr. Frank Njenga led taskforce
in collaboration with MoH
• Invest massively on mental wellbeing of the youths (read Kerry Gibson book
on what youth want on mental health and integrate suggestions from various
experts on the discipline.
 Leverage technology to create youth driven agendas and opportunities.
• Utilize speedy technology in place to empower and enhance talent growth,
product marketing and skill revamp among youths
 Globalize education programs to create broader job market for the youths
• The president should also lead the initiative on globalizing market for youth
initiated programs, products, innovations and talents through international
negotiations.
As we meditate on the position of the youths, we must remember the strong words of
Kofi Hannan, “any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and
creativity of its youths will be left behind”. Let’s not be a man-eat-man society or
embrace the ANIMAL FARM logic that “some animals are more equal than others”.
The words of J.M. Kariuki, defining Kenya as a country of 10Millionaires and
10Million Beggars reflects the sad state of the nation and it is prudent we speak.
Let’s meditate on the poem “fix the politics” by Dike Chukwumerije as we urge
ourselves to utilize 2021 as a stepping stone to the future we cherish to inherit.

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The writer Dennis Owuor Okello is a health practitioner and commentator.
dennisokello520@yahoo.com