The ‘Real’ Youth is NOT represented in Political Leadership in Kenya.

KPD - Opinion.

Photo Courtesy - The Guardian Nigeria.

The United Nations defines a youth as someone below the age of 24 years and above 15 years. However, the East African Community defines a youth as that between ages of 15 to 35 years.

According to the Regional analysis of Youth Demographics in Kenya, the proportion of the youth age, 18-35 in Kenya, constitutes 25% while those below 15years make up 43% of the total population.

The 2019 population and housing Census puts the number of youths below the age of 35 at 35.7 million out of the whole population of 47.6million people.

Using any of the above data it is evident in Kenya that youths are underrepresented in leadership and governance in East and Central Africa if not the world especially political leadership but great interest is concentrated to Kenya.

In a society where youths could have been occupying almost 60% of leadership and governance positions, it is unfortunate that not only county governments but also the national government as well cannot manage even half of what is genuinely required as per the data available.

By the nature of our Kenyan politics, it is a known fact to all that a youth at ages 19-26 cannot manage to mobilize and campaign for an elective seat. This is because of the high voter handout dependency ratio brought about by the fortunate hustlers who are now old and enjoys the warmth of them being ‘early birds.’ Chances are so mean convincing voters who are used to putting food on the table when others visit them as compared to the youths majorly being newcomers in the game and with insufficient finances to mount a serious campaign, “Serious” to voters meaning they are receiving small handouts to sustain them even for a day. Without which the Swahili phrase of “Mkono Mtupu Haulambwi” becomes the rejoinder.

At the very central ages of one holding the title reference as a youth, 21-28, many at these ages are either students in universities, colleges and technical training institutes or fresh graduates not married, it is so unfortunate that at this age not even a 10% can be assigned duties in serious leadership positions nor even nominated by political parties to hold positions of leadership in parliament. 

Does this mean that youths at such age can not work just for a reason they are students?

Is it in order to conclude that it is unconstitutional to appoint or support a youth between ages 22-29 into plum leadership positions? Borrowing a living example of the Prime Cabinet Secretary Designate, H.E Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi, who first entered parliament at a very young age of 28 years after the death of his father Moses Mudavadi. With no experience, Mudavadi served and it should be noted that even below that age people can still serve better.

Today, especially in Kenya, people appointed to represent youths for instance for 5years, as per the definition of the word Youth, they tend to bypass the ag limit before their terms elapse. In an instance someone is appointed or elected on the basis of them being youths at the age of 33, 34 or 35years, before the end of the 5-year term, the youths are no longer youths! 

It is high time youths should open their third eye and demand their share specifically in political leadership. ‘Vijana Tunachezwa’ is real. Not appointed as County Executive Members neither as cabinet secretaries and even if they do vetting will then entirely revolve around experience of which might not be sufficient they will be thrown out.

The real youth on the ground is not represented anywhere. The older youths{33+yrs} purporting to represent us are not used entirely in their periods of service.

What Musalia Mudavadi did at 28-31years can be done even better by a youth at 22-28years.

Forget about the question of experience unless after there is availed a platform to gain the needed experience. To gain more experience as a Cabinet Secretary, youths should be nominated to the very position of a Cabinet Secretary!

BY SEBASTIAN KARANI ASAVA.

A Digital Media Communications Practitioner