Report On Youth Leadership And Political Participation In Kenya

Youth leaders from across Kenya came together to find solutions on ways to strengthen youth political participation in Kenya. This was particularly poignant, especially in the context of the upcoming general elections in 2022. 

The event was hosted by GovJunction, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and The Youth Café on November 20, 2021. 

The main action points agreed by youth leaders in the Session included; Increased funding and fundraising for young political aspirants, Creation of marketing opportunities and presenting young political aspirants to the general public, Host mock elections in school institutions like primary and high schools to build understanding and capacity around political rights and participating in the electoral process, Support IEBC’s campaign on youth voter registration specifically targeted people with disabilities (PWDs) and other marginalized groups, Host National Youth Council (NYC) elections countrywide so that young Kenyans vote for who leads them, Strengthen The Youth Cafés Youth Manifesto as a tool for political engagement and have a Youth Manifesto sign-on event for politicians, Host town hall deliberations/youth dialogues on youth political engagement. 

These actions will form the base for ongoing action and programming, by Govjunction and Partners going forward.

This report, therefore, highlights recommendations from youth leaders across Kenya on how to improve youth political participation in Kenya. It includes among them a youth-led campaign to register youth to vote, increasing funding for young political aspirants, and building out a Youth Manifesto as a tool for political engagement.

The 2007 general elections highlighted Kenya’s failures to engage its youth constituency effectively in political, governance, and electoral processes. Building trust between young people and democratic institutions is critical as young people make up a substantive part of the overall Kenyan population. 

Around 75% of Kenya's 48 million people are below the age of 35, according to the county's 2019 census. Young people in Kenya’s political landscape, therefore, represent the largest demographic unit and political constituency.

The Session was privileged to have the presence of a representative from the Executive Office of the President, Mr. Mukhtar Abdi Ogle, EBS, OGW Secretary, Strategic Initiatives: Cabinet Affairs. Mukhtar has been championing Peace Building, Youth Leadership, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Mentoring among the youth consistently for the last three years. He has been using his office to promote and advance youth interests at the heart of Government while having a unique on-the-ground perspective on youth matters. 

His presentation challenged young people to take advantage of the demographic boom and convert it to a demographic dividend for Kenya. He further challenged young people to be prepared for the transition to work, leadership, and other roles, for the potential for global progress is unlimited. He highlighted that the President is committed to young people evidenced by his endorsement as the Global Youth Champion, and the African Union Leader for Arts, Culture, and Heritage. 

The session was also privileged to have the Cabinet Secretary(CS) for youth represented by Deborah Bubi, Chairperson for the Youth Advisory Board in the Ministry of Innovation, ICT, and Youth. She reiterated the President’s Commitment to the Youth Agenda and emphasized his appointment of young people to several strategic positions and roles across the government. 

She cited the Chief Administrative Secretary, Nadia Abdalla, and herself as prime examples of youth being prioritized in Government. She also highlighted the commitment of the CS, Joe Mucheru- who ensured that nearly all the members of the Youth Advisory Board were members under the age of 35. She also highlighted his commitment to the National Youth Council (NYC) and ensuring that the 16 members of the NYC are in place and functional and that participatory and inclusive elections are properly planned and held.

The Youth Cafés Executive Director Willice Onyango, highlighted the importance of exercising franchise as crucial, and deciding not to vote is a type of de facto voting to both. He also highlighted the importance of young people organizing themselves. He noted that many young people are being put-off because of the tribal nature of politics inherited from British colonial history and the individualization of political parties as key mechanisms for political engagement.

The closing remarks on the Action Plan by Steadman Noble, Host of GovJunction, focused on the issue of Youth Political participation as one which there is collective consensus to address in Kenya. As has been said throughout the proceedings, young people are potentially a political force that could singlehanded change the course and direction of Kenya as a country in the years to come. 

For this to happen, young people must evolve a sense of collective power and empowerment to make this happen. Constructive mechanisms of engagement must be established to ensure that young people can effectively participate in the political process. 

For GovJunction perhaps, one of the most seminal recommendations emerging from the proceedings is the need to ensure that marginalized groups of young people are not excluded from the political process. This includes young people with disabilities, ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities, many of whom are often likely to be excluded from the development process as a whole.

The Youth Café works with young men and women around Africa as a trailblazer in advancing youth-led approaches toward achieving sustainable development, social equity, innovative solutions, community resilience and transformative change.

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