State must take action after damning report on our youth

It was sad to be told 47 per cent of Kenyan youth have no qualms with and admire those who acquire wealth through dubious means.

That 40 per cent would only vote for those who bribe them is a matter of concern. And that 30 per cent of youth think “corruption is a profitable venture” that they would pursue to realise their dreams is worrying.

That is according to The Aga Khan University’s East African Institute, which commissioned a survey between 2014 and 2015, conducted in the East African states of Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

It captured some 1,854 youth aged between 18 and 35 years from rural and urban centres across the country, as reflected in the Kenya Youth Report 2015.

On the hair raising revelation that 50 per cent of Kenyan youth believe it does not matter how one makes money so long as they stay clear of the gallows and docks, no one surmises it better than the fiery anti-corruption activist John Githongo, who said it is not surprising, since corruption has been glorified for more than 50 years.

He goes ahead to tackle the elephant in the room, the hard but derided truth that has led to this: The rule of law has been thrown to the dogs and corrupt thieves are having a field day distributing money earned dubiously. Some of the loot ends up in church coffers.

The eye-popping report further reveals that 73 per cent of youth would rather not stand up for what is right for the fear of retribution and being deemed politically incorrect.

This confirms the long-held opinion that the youth are heavily saddled with feelings of social insecurity and deeply entrenched in a miasma of desperation for quick riches even at the expense of others.

If this trend continues unabated, then transforming Kenya into a self-sustained middle income economy by 2030 will remain a pipe dream.

TAX LOOPHOLES

It is my profound belief that today’s youth must stop viewing graft as acceptable and shun their vulnerability to electoral bribery as it degrades their efforts at trying to achieve better service delivery from their elected leaders.

It is welcome to note that only 40 per cent trust their elected leaders, but 62 per cent are still vulnerable to electoral manipulation.

The modern day youth must understand that the Constitution grants him or her the right to demand for proper service delivery without being at risk of any penalties and without any conditions other than being a citizen of Kenya. Thus the notion that a politician can only help one financially before being elected into office must cease henceforth.

What was discovered to be causing the youth sleepless nights, however, is the scarcity of employment opportunities and access to capital for startups, with 60 per cent confirming it is their worst nightmare.

The seemingly stagnant job market is biting hard and is a reality that we must portend with for the moment. In this respect, the ball still falls in the Government’s court. It must ensure its comes up with policies that encourage investment, especially in the small and micro-enterprises sector.

It must also close tax loopholes and channel more funds towards infrastructure, manufacturing and industry to spur job creation.

But the youth are also urged to join hands and form groups through which they can easily access capital for business or agricultural ventures, especially from the Government’s Uwezo Fund.