Nakuru youth fight for major positions in Jubilee party

Nakuru county youth leaders lead by Charles Njohia Njuguna (center) and Philip Ngok (right) addressing the press in Nakuru .They are looking forward to take key positions within Jubilee Party in the county .PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

A group of youth in Nakuru County are determined to claim stake in the Jubilee Party (JP). Dubbed Jubilee Digital 2017, the youthful group consisting of university students and jobless youth from all walks of life is poised to make a stab at capturing leadership positions in the UhuRuto led party. They want to increase chances of getting nominated for County Assembly and parliamentary seats next year.

Led by Charles Njihia, they have expressed frustration of being locked out of party leadership positions in the past. “The group has positioned itself to contest for various elective seats in the next General Election,” said Njihia, who leads the WhatsApp users group.

With over 100 members, ready to fight for positions in county assembles and a few eyeing parliamentary seats, the team has so far held retreats in Machakos, Naivasha and Nakuru to discuss resource mobilsation and strategy.

Three weeks ago, the Nakuru Jubilee Digital Team 2017 met top Jubilee merger/transition leaders led by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi and his JAP co-chair Noah Wekesa.

Dr Wekesa, who together with Mr Kiraitu were appointed by President Uhuru to oversee the transition cum merger political parties allied to Jubilee coalition, confirmed meeting the group’s 15 leaders.

“They came to find out how they will be accommodated in the new outfit, and we told them the party will have positions for the youth which they should also vie for,” said Wekesa.

The youth told the party leadership that they will not continue being used as instruments for achieving goals defined by and relevant to older politicians, rather than using their numbers to direct political discourse and subsequently electoral outcomes.

“Kenya gained independence in 1963 and has since experienced autocratic single-party regimes, a failed coup, pluralistic democracy (multi-partism), ethnic conflicts and a contested presidential election that left the country on the brink of civil war. Throughout this period, the youth have been sidelined, making them gullible to the machinations of politicians,” said Njihia.

A report released last year by the Centre for Multiparty Democracy-Kenya, showed political parties have locked out youth in their activities. “Although Kenyan youth constitute the biggest chunk of voters, they have not succeeded to harness political power within political institutions, including political parties,” it states.

Elijah Kinyanjui, one of the founder members observes that the youth tend to be more relevant as instruments for achieving goals defined by older politicians, rather than using their numbers to direct political discourse and subsequently electoral outcomes.

In an apparent counter, Governor Kinuthia Mbugua and Bahati MP Onesmus Kimani Ngunjiri convened a meeting of elected leaders and assured the youth that they (elected leaders) had no plans to lock aspirants out of Jubilee Party leadership.

Mr Mbugua dismissed those claiming leadership of “political posturing” and masquerading.

Mr Ngunjiri welcomes the initiative by the youth but cautions that leadership is more  than being youthful and energetic.

“We welcome youth participation in elective politics because they make a majority of voters but they should understand that leadership is much more than being young, energetic and vocal,” he said.

Political Scientist Philip Chebunet, a lecturer at the University of Eldoret, says social media has greatly influenced youth interest in politics, given new media’s growing importance to information consumption.

“The young people have a responsibility to be involved with politics and with their civic duties,” he adds.