The government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has urged young people in the country to go for available opportunities in the corporate, civil service or the political arena and establish themselves so that they can get a footing for leadership.
Speaking to the press after a meeting of a United Democratic Alliance Party (UDA) Comrade’s chapter in Garissa, Mwaura said that the youth have the potential to become notable leaders if they put hard work into it and grab the available opportunities.
The spokesperson said that the government has been listening to the voices of the youth especially after the series of demonstrations which led to the withdrawal of the 2024 finance bill, and that they will be involved in key decision making and policy formulations.
“We have brought together the young people in Garissa so that we can discuss on the UDA manifesto especially on our big five agenda on agriculture, Housing, Digital economy, Universal health care, the new university funding model and also the work abroad programme,” Mwaura said.
“We are also telling them that they can be leaders too because most of us in the leadership started as student leaders and rose through the ranks while serving in various capacities,” he added.
Gishangi Gitonga, the Secretary General of the UDAs Comrades’ chapter said that the youth have taken the lead to fight for inclusion of their voices in governance and policy making and to be heard by the government.
Gitonga said that the ruling party’s youth wing is also working on ways of connecting the youth to opportunities not necessarily employment but also in ways that they can create their businesses and be employers.
“The Comrades chapter is all about the inclusion of the youth in the government and the opportunities for the youth which will allow them to grow individually and politically in leadership,” Gitonga said.
“Our economy now cannot support the employment of everyone especially in the government. We have been told of the youth fund where youth can access up to Ksh 500,000 to start their businesses and hopefully employ others,” he added.
Veronica Mwinzi, a mathematics and chemistry student at the Garissa University called on the youths in the country to always avail themselves at the public participation forums for policies and bills noting that, that is the first place their voices can be heard.
Ms Mwinzi argued that youths must not complain of not being heard when they do not come out when called to give their views on important issues that affect their country.
By Erick Kyalo
