US envoy pledges kitty to boost reforms

By Peter Atsiaya

US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger says he will soon launch a fund to help the youth push for reforms.

Ranneberger said the kitty would be established during a national forum in about a month.

"I have embarked on a vigorous campaign to use youth organisations to push leaders in power to initiate political and economic reforms," said the envoy.

Influence leaders

He added that he was traversing the country to mobilise the youth to push for change.

He added that the youth were the majority and if facilitated they could influence leaders opposed to reforms.

"People in power never give up anything easily unless pushed to do so," he said.

Ranneberger was addressing students of Maseno School at the institution’s chapel at the end of his two-day tour of Nyanza Province, yesterday.

US President Barak Obama’s father, the late Barak Obama Snr is a former student of the school.

Kisumu West District Education Officer Rose Sagala and the school Principal Paul Otula accompanied Ranneberger.

The Ambassador said he would facilitate exchange programmes between Maseno and leading schools and centres of excellence in the US.

Boost standards

He was responding to Mr Otula’s request that such a programme would boost the school’s academic standards and ensure students secure scholarships.

"Nyanza Youth Coalition led by Joshua Nyamori is among youth organisations that has impressed us with the way it has mobilised young people to intensify pressure for reforms," Ranneberger said.

Other groups include Nairobi-based Youth Agenda, Citizens Assembly, Rift Valley Dialogue Forum, and Young Muslims Association of Kenya.

The envoy cautioned the youth against using violence in pursuit for change.

He added that ethnic politics should be stopped saying that tribalism was a major cause of problems Kenyans were facing.