Youth from Kericho County have been urged to actively participate in the budget-making process by submitting development projects.
The call was made during a sensitization forum in Kericho courtesy of the Emerging Leaders Foundation-Africa (ELF-Africa), revealing that in Kenya, approximately 75% of the population is under the age of 35 years, a demographic significantly affected by the budget-making process as it impacts key areas such as education, employment, healthcare, and social services, which are critical for their development and future opportunities.
While making her presentation, the ELF Africa budget facilitator, Diana Chepkorir, highlighted the critical role of public participation by the youth in fostering good governance, especially within Kenya’s decentralized government system, adding that transparency and social accountability will help the government spend on critical sectors that touch on the youth.
She said, their contribution can lead to more transparent and accountable governance, as they are more likely to demand and ensure accountability. Policies crafted with youth input are more likely to address long-term challenges such as education, employment, and climate change, creating a sustainable future for all.
“Young people bring innovative ideas and fresh approaches to addressing economic and social challenges, and that is another reason why we are championing for their participation in not only the budget-making process but also governance and policy issues,” said Chepkorir.
Meanwhile, ELF Africa Governance and Civic Engagement Lead, Mr. Robert Mwangi, who spoke to KNA, said the workshop sought to empower young people, increasing their influence in developmental processes and enabling them to contribute meaningfully to governance.
”We prioritize engagement and training by organizing youth-centered workshops to highlight how public participation is feasible at all levels, from the village to the county. The governments could provide training for youth on how to self-organize and turn their ideas into actionable proposals” said Mwangi.
The over 50 youth representatives present at the workshop were enlightened on a variety of issues, including early pregnancies across Kericho County, with an emphasis on the need for responsive budgeting to allocate resources towards education and health services to mitigate the challenge.
They were also sensitized on matters of climate change and how local policies can be adapted to address environmental sustainability and resilience, such as actively participating in frequent tree planting activities to increase the forest cover in the county.
The seminar was conducted at the ACK conference hall in Kericho town.
By Sharon Cheruiyot and Ezra Kipchumba
