Young Turks for Handshake Alliance (YOTHA), an umbrella body which has brought together budding politicians and young professionals in the country and those working in the diaspora, has thrown its weight behind the Building Bridges Initiative saying it would create opportunity for young professionals to thrive in the country.
YOTHA which was formed in September 2020 drummed up support for proposals contained in the document saying they were fully in behind the initiative proposed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking during a retreat at Opoda farm in Bondo, co-chairs Zack Kinuthia and Jaoko Oburu termed YOTHA as a revolutionary alliance which would not only campaign for BBI in the anticipated referendum but also ensure the aspirations of Uhuru and Raila for the country are carried beyond 2022.
“Although YOTHA has a role to play in both the 2022 general elections and the anticipated BBI referendum, it has a bigger focus. This country will require leaders who can continue with agreement of our two greatest politicians in Kenya today. We will require a continuation of programs that have been set like the implementation of the Big 4 Agenda, Vision 2030, African Agenda 2063 and sustainable development. Our role therefore is to create the character and the philosophy of those leaders today,” said Kinuthia.
Kinuthia who is also the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry Education said youth and young professionals in and out of the country would not wait for their future to be decided by others but would instead have a clear plan ahead of time so that they could be part of leadership.
Kinuthia’s co-chair and host Jaoko Oburu said the antidote to Kenya’s divisive politics is the implementation of BBI proposals through the referendum.
Oburu who also the Siaya county Roads and Public works CEC said through YOTHA, Kenyans should expect a different brand of politics which is devoid of tribal alignments.
“We are tired of being divided along tribal lines and our alliance will be revolutionary with grassroots presence in all parts of the country. What we want is politics that benefits all sectors and categories of people like the BBI proposals and we want to make a significant in deciding the future of Kenyan politics,” said Oburu.
The YOTHA’s super coordinators retreat was also graced by Dr. Ouma Oluga of Nairobi Metropolitan Service who represented the young professional who said Kenya has an opportunity to rewrite the past wrongs through constitutional review.
“We are here because politics went wrong in Kenya causing suffering to the youth and young professionals and therefore we have to try and restore what the country did not give us,” Oluga said.
The former KMPDU chair said that young people in the country have the responsibility of building their nation and leave behind a better country for future generation.
He said that doctors in the country have expressed gratitude after their proposal for the creation of Health Service Commission was captured by the BBI proposal under the Health as one of the social pillars.
Oluga said that although their proposal was captured under the legislative amendment instead of the expected constitutional amendment, they still welcomed the proposal that was expected to uplift health standards in the country.
The retreat was attended by YOTHA super coordinators representing various regions in the country who included Beatrice Gambo (Coast)Wavinya Nzioka (Lower Eastern), Prof Isaiah Wakindiki (Mt. Kenya East) Ekiru Alex (Turkana) Natameyi Kilusu (Narok East), Kadogo Nyawade (diaspora ), Fred Makajo (Students’ rep) and Sylvester Oketch (PWDs).
By Brian Ondeng’
